Saudi astronauts prepare for 10-day space mission to study cloud seeding
Two Saudi astronauts are heading to the International Space Station to carry out 11 experiments, including a study of cloud seeding in microgravity.
Ali Al Qarni, Rayyanah Barnawi and two American colleagues are scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on May 12 for a 10-day mission.
They are part of the Axiom-2 mission by Axiom Space, the second privately led trip to the orbiting laboratory by the Houston-based company.
The trip for Saudi Arabia comes nearly 40 years after the kingdom sent its first astronaut to space.
One of the tests they will carry out involves different cloud-seeding techniques.
Cloud seeding on Earth involves firing silver iodide – chemical compound AgI – or salt crystals into clouds, helping to generate rain.
“Cloud seeding has been adopted by many countries to increase precipitation in areas suffering from drought,” Axiom Space said.
“In this experiment, cloud seeding will be examined for the first time in space under microgravity conditions.
“Moist air and AgI crystals will be mixed in a reaction chamber to examine the possibility of nucleation, where water vapour condenses on AgI crystals to form water droplets.
“The outcome will help develop weather control technology to generate artificial rain in future human settlements on the Moon and Mars.”
The test is in collaboration with Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, the Saudi Space Commission and Nanoracks, a US company that helps its customers launch experiments and technology to space.
The UAE is leading the way in cloud-seeding efforts in the Middle East, carrying out regular seeding experiments and research.
In 2022, the Emirates conducted 311 cloud-seeding missions, clocking up close to 1,000 flying hours.
While cloud seeding could help with the Middle East’s water security, similar techniques could help future explorers create water on other planets.
As space agencies and companies plan to build settlements on the Moon and Mars, it has becoming increasingly important for scientists to create ways for astronauts to build their own resources.
Water is heavy and it would be challenging for rocket companies to deliver large quantities to space. The astronauts will also carry out an experiment for the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre.
It involves studying the inflammatory response of human immune cells in microgravity. They will investigate changes in the mRNA – a genetic material that tells the body how to make proteins.
“The crew will take RNA samples for analysis on the ground, where the investigators will monitor RNA expression patterns, and thousands of mRNA half-lives will be measured,” Axiom Space said.
“Results could contribute to a better understanding of space health and uncover biomarkers or potential therapies for inflammatory diseases in space and on Earth.”