Student-Designed Satellites Take Off On International Space Mission!

Big news from the Kingdom’s space scene: two satellites designed by Saudi students have officially made it to orbit on an international mission, the Saudi Space Agency announced on Saturday!

These tiny but mighty satellites were created by brilliant students from Umm Al-Qura University and Prince Sultan University

The creation was part of the SARI small-satellite competition, where undergrads from across Saudi Arabia got a chance to design, build, and operate their very own satellites.

The competition, held in December 2024, was no small feat!

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There were 480 entries from 42 universities, and only two projects made the cut

Talk about beating the odds!

The goal? To give students hands-on STEM experience and prepare the Kingdom’s next generation of space innovators. And judging by this launch, it’s safe to say they’re already reaching for the stars.

Saudi space excitement isn’t new,  interest skyrocketed after astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni traveled to the International Space Station on the Axiom Mission 2 in May 2023. Onboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule, they joined seven other astronauts, including an Emirati, marking another proud moment for the Kingdom.

And of course, the Kingdom’s space journey has deep roots: more than three decades ago, Prince Sultan bin Salman Al Saud made history as the first Arab in space during NASA’s STS-51G mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in June 1985.

From classrooms to orbit, Saudi students are proving that the sky is just the beginning!