Rayyanah Barnawi

Rayyanah Barnawi, born in 1988, is a Saudi Arabian biomedical researcher and astronaut. She holds a bachelor's degree in genetic engineering and tissue development from the University of Otago in New Zealand and a master's degree in biomedical sciences from Alfaisal University in Riyadh, where she focused on breast cancer stem-cell adhesion. Before becoming an astronaut, she worked for nearly a decade as a researcher in cancer stem-cell studies at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre. In May 2023, Barnawi made history as the first Saudi female astronaut, first Arab Muslim woman, and 600th human to orbit Earth, flying aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Freedom as part of Axiom Space’s second private mission to the ISS. During her 9 days, 5 hours, and 27 minutes on the ISS, she conducted 14 scientific experiments in microgravity, including research on immune-cell behavior and how microgravity affects breast cancer cells. After returning to Earth, Rayyanah launched BioGravity, the region’s first microgravity bioscience platform.