New Delhi

While ancient civilizations like Iran are stuck in a domestic battle over the compulsory wearing of headscarves by women, Saudi Arabia, the leader of the Islamic world, is preparing to send its first woman astronaut into space by 2023 and its leading space engineer Mishaal Ashemimry has just been elected to the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), as one of its 12 Vice-Presidents.

The 26-year-old Mishaal Ashemimry has thus become the first Saudi woman to hold this position in the IAF that was founded in 1951.

International Astronautical Federation is the world’s leading space advocacy body with 433 members in 72 countries, including all leading space agencies, companies, research institutions, universities, societies, associations, institutes, and museums worldwide.

On Mishaal Ashemimry’s election, Arab News said, “Her role as one of the federation’s 12 vice-presidents enables her to further the development of the space sector globally and consolidate the direction of the IAF.”

Mishaal is also the first aerospace engineer in the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Saudi media gives her credit for getting into global and regional “strategic places” and taking Saudi Arabia to the forefront of the industry.

Ashemimry has served as special advisor to the CEO of the Saudi Space Commission Mohammed Al-Tamimi.

She has worked as a space nuclear technology consultant at a global aerospace and defense company. She has worked as a research assistant at the Florida Institute of technology on a NASA-funded project. She completed her bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics and aerospace engineering in 2006 from the same institute.

In 2015, Ashemimry won the Inspirational Woman of the Year Award at the Arab Women Awards, and in 2018 for her scientific achievements by King Salman.

She is a certified Nitrox, rescue and open water diver, a commercial pilot, and is trained in real space flight conditions of zero-gravity.

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