PRINCE SULTAN JOINS NASA TO MARK 30TH YEAR OF DISCOVERY LAUNCH

Riyadh, 5 Dhulqo’dah 1436/20 August 2015 (MINA) –Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, participated in the ceremony organized by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) marking the 30th anniversary of the launch of the Discovery spacecraft in the Udvar-Hazy Center at the Museum of Space and American Aviation, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The participants included Prince Turki bin Saud, president of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, NASA President Gen. Charles Bolden and the secretary of the American Smithsonian Museums Group, David J. Skorton, International Islamic News Agency (IINA) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Prince Sultan was accompanied by the Saudi scientific team which assisted the prince during his exercises prior to his trip in 1985.

The team consisted of Khaled bin Fahd Al-Sudairy, the chargé d’affaires of the Saudi Embassy in Washington Sami Al-Sadhan, directors of military, cultural and health attaché offices of the embassy, the vice president for Company Affairs of Saudi Aramco Naser Al-Nafisi, and a number of astronauts who participated in Discovery flight 3 decades ago.

During the ceremony, Prince Sultan exchanged cordial talks with the Discovery team and guests about the details related to the Discovery flight, commending its scientific value.

The ceremony concluded with various astronauts grabbing a quick photo with the prince near the spaceship.

The Discovery spaceship ascended into space on June 17, 1985, a scientific journey sealing Prince Sultan’s status as the first Arab Muslim astronaut.

The prince was with five US astronauts and a French astronaut, and a reserve team consisting of Saudi pilot Abdul Mohsen Al-Bassam and American pilot Jean-Christian. (T/Imt/RO6)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)