Ruba Obaid

• The exhibition comes in line with Vision 2030, aiming to empower youngsters to gain knowledge of advanced technologies

RIYADH: The Space Discovery event was inaugurated in Riyadh on Thursday as part of the most significant entertainment season in the Kingdom. Visitors will have a unique space experience, and discover many high-resolution space models of astronauts, spacesuits, and spacecraft, as well as more than 300 historical pieces from NASA.

It is scheduled to continue for a week until Thursday, Oct. 31. The exhibition is open from 11 a.m. until midnight, and tickets are available online and on the gate for SR40 ($10.66).

The exhibition includes original and replica spacecraft and spacesuits used in different human space expeditions, most importantly the Apollo manned mission to the moon.

Interactive section

There is also an interactive section for visitors to experience what it is like to be in space. One corner in the exhibition is also dedicated to Prince Sultan bin Salman’s mission into space on the US STS-51-G Space Shuttle in 1985.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The exhibition includes original and replica spacecraft and space suits used in different human space expeditions, most importantly the Apollo manned mission to the moon.
• The event is scheduled to continue for a week until Thursday, Oct. 31. The exhibition is open from 11 a.m. until midnight, and tickets are available online and on the gate for SR40 ($10.66).
• One corner in the exhibition is also dedicated to Prince Sultan bin Salman’s mission into space on the US STS-51-G Space Shuttle in 1985.

Prince Sultan was the first Arab and Muslim to travel into space, helping to deploy a satellite for the Arab Satellite Communications Organization with NASA, where he spent seven days in orbit.

The exhibition comes in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, aiming to empower young Saudis to gain knowledge of advanced technologies.

Dalia, a 12-year-old girl who came to visit the exhibition with her family, said: “I saw the different machines of the spacecraft control room, as well as the space shuttle. It is wonderful and interesting.

“There are many beautiful spacesuits; it is interesting to see how humans invented stronger and more effective suits as science and technology progressed across the years.”

Another visitor, Mohammed Al-Muammar, 25, came with his mother and sisters to the exhibition, and praised the General Entertainment Authority.

BACKGROUND

• Prince Sultan was the first Arab and Muslim to travel into space, helping to deploy a satellite for the Arab Satellite Communications Organization with NASA, where he spent seven days in orbit.
• Less than a year ago, King Salman appointed Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud as chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Space Agency, at the rank of minister.
• A royal order established the agency on Dec. 27, 2018, just weeks after two Saudi-designed satellites were launched into space from China, known as Saudi Sat 5a and Saudi Sat 5b.

“I hope to see more of these initiatives that encourage the youth and all society members to learn about the world and maybe inspire them to discover their niches,” he told Arab News.

“There is one thing that was upsetting for me, the event’s main presentation was in English, and many people couldn’t understand a word, and they left including my mother and sister.

“It is targeting families, and non-English speakers are the majority of visitors. They deserve to understand what is going on.”

Less than a year ago, King Salman appointed Prince Sultan as chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Space Agency, at the rank of minister.

A royal order established the agency on Dec. 27, 2018, just weeks after two Saudi-designed satellites were launched into space from China, known as Saudi Sat 5a and Saudi Sat 5b.