Saudi astronauts conduct space kite experiment with students from ISS

Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni on Sunday conducted a second educational experiment with school students in the Kingdom live from the International Space Station.

The space kite experiment involved 12,000 middle school students from 47 schools across the Kingdom. They directly communicated with the astronauts through a live video feed.

The Saudi Space Commission organized the experiments in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, Riyadh Schools and Misk Schools.

Through education, the commission hopes to inspire a new generation of Saudi leaders, explorers and scientists in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

Students communicated with the two astronauts, asked questions and compared research results. They were directed to compare the aerodynamic behavior of space kites on the ground and in the microgravity environment of the ISS.

The series of student experiments also aim to enhance the Kingdom’s role in developing the space sector and boost its position in the global space science research community.

The first experiment that the two Saudi astronauts conducted with students was held on Saturday. The pair, together with elementary students in the Kingdom, examined the behavior of colored fluids on Earth and in space.

The experiment focused on changes in speed and shape while liquids were stirred in both environments.