Pakistani female astronaut Namira Salim. — Facebook/Namira Salim
According to the Khaleej Times, Pakistan’s first female astronaut, Namira Salim, is preparing for the historic journey to space.
Namira, a Pakistani expat living in Dubai, will go on her celestial journey on October 5. She is adamant about raising Pakistan’s flag in space.
Virgin Galactic Holdings, a space tourism firm, has announced that its Galactic 04 flight window will begin next month.
Namira has already been assigned the seat of Astronaut No. 6 by Virgin Galactic’s Founder Astronaut, Richard Branson. Astronaut 019 will assist her on her first trip to orbit.
In 2006, the Pakistani government formally recognized Namira as the country’s first astronaut. In 2007, she was also appointed as Pakistan’s honorary tourism ambassador.
Namira was also the first Pakistani to reach the North Pole in April 2007, when she raised the Pakistan flag, then the South Pole in January 2008.
Namira, who raised Pakistan’s flag at the North Pole in 2007, will embark on her celestial journey on October 5.
Not only that, but Namira was the first Asian and the first Pakistani to skydive over Mount Everest in 2008. In 2011, she was awarded the ‘Tamgha-e-Imtiaz’ (Medal of Excellence).
Murtaza Solangi, the caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting, said Namira Salim’s planned trip to space was a sign of Pakistan’s expanding presence in space exploration and a big achievement for the country.
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She updated the caretaker minister on her space voyage preparations, stating her intention to fly the Pakistani flag in space.
Solangi thanked Namira Saleem on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, and the people on the start of her space trip and wished her luck.
Terming Namira Saleem as a role model for all women, Solangi said the young generation can raise the name of Pakistan in the world in various fields of life.
“This effort of Namira Saleem will highlight the positive image of Pakistan as a peace-loving and progressive country,” he maintained.
Additional input from APP.
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