In a groundbreaking move highlighting Saudi Arabia’s ambitions in space exploration,
the Saudi Space Agency has signed a landmark agreement with NASA to launch the Kingdom’s first satellite dedicated to studying space weather.
The mission is scheduled to be part of NASA’s Artemis II program in 2026.
The agreement was signed in Riyadh during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump and in the presence of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,
symbolizing the depth of strategic cooperation between the two countries in science, technology, and innovation.
The Saudi satellite, a CubeSat model, will be launched aboard NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket
and will separate into high Earth orbit after the Orion spacecraft begins its mission trajectory.
It will gather high-resolution data on solar activity and its impact on Earth’s magnetic field, supporting enhanced space weather forecasting and improving satellite and astronaut safety.
This initiative reflects Saudi Arabia’s active participation in the Artemis Accords for peaceful space exploration and aligns with the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP),
a key pillar of Vision 2030, focused on localizing advanced technologies and building strategic national capabilities.
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