Saudi Arabia to launch first space weather satellite under Artemis II mission
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has signed a landmark agreement with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to launch its first satellite dedicated to studying space weather, under the Artemis II mission.
The deal marks a new milestone in Saudi–US scientific cooperation and reinforces the Kingdom's role in global space exploration initiatives.
Signed during the official visit of US President Donald Trump to Riyadh, the agreement builds upon the broader US–Saudi space cooperation framework formalized in July 2024 and reflects the growing strength of bilateral ties in science, technology, and innovation.
The mission, led by the Saudi Space Agency (SSA), underscores Saudi Arabia's commitment to the Artemis Accords — an international framework promoting peaceful and collaborative exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The new satellite will collect high-resolution data on solar activity and its effects on Earth's magnetic field, contributing to global efforts to protect astronauts, improve satellite navigation and communications, and enhance space weather forecasting.
The initiative falls under the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), a Vision 2030 realization program aimed at advancing domestic industrial content and building national expertise in strategic technologies. It also aligns with the Kingdom's goal of becoming a knowledge-driven, innovation-led economy and bolstering local talent in the growing space sector.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
11 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
The Tea app was intended to help women date safely. Then it got hacked
Tea, a provocative dating app designed to let women anonymously ask or warn each other about men they'd encountered, rocketed to the top spot on the US Apple App Store this week. On Friday, the company behind the app confirmed it had been hacked: Thousands of images, including selfies, were leaked online. 'We have engaged third-party cybersecurity experts and are working around the clock to secure our systems,' San Francisco-based Tea Dating Advice Inc. said in a statement. The app and the breach highlight the fraught nature of seeking romance in the age of social media. Here's what to know: Tea was meant to help women date safely. Tea founder Sean Cook, a software engineer who previously worked at Salesforce and Shutterfly, says on the app's website that he founded the company in 2022 after witnessing his own mother's terrifying experiences. Cook said they included unknowingly dating men with criminal records and being catfished – deceived by men using false identities. Tea markets itself as a safe way for women to anonymously vet men they might meet on dating apps such as Tinder or Bumble – ensuring that the men are who they say they are, not criminals, and not already married or in a relationship. It's been compared to the Yelp of dating. In an Apple Store review, one woman wrote that she used a Tea search to investigate a man she'd begun talking to and discovered over 20 red flags, including serious allegations like assault and recording women without their consent. She said she cut off communication. 'I can't imagine how things could've gone had I not known,' she wrote. A surge in social media attention over the past week pushed Tea to the No. 1 spot at the US Apple Store as of July 24, according to Sensor Tower, a research firm. In the seven days from July 17-23, Tea downloads shot up 525 percent compared to the week before. Tea said in an Instagram post that it had reached 4 million users. Tea has been criticized for invading men's privacy. A female columnist for The Times of London newspaper who signed into the app on Thursday called Tea a 'man-shaming' site and complained that 'this is simply vigilante justice entirely reliant on the scruples of anonymous women.' 'With Tea on the scene, what man would ever dare date a woman again?' It's unclear what legal recourse an aggrieved man might have if he feels he's been defamed or had his privacy violated on Tea or a similar social media platform. In May, a federal judge in Illinois threw out an invasion-of-privacy lawsuit by a man who'd been criticized by women in the Facebook chat group 'Are We Dating the Same Guy,' Bloomberg Law reported. The breach exposed thousands of selfies and photo IDs. In its statement, Tea reported that about 72,000 images were leaked online, including 13,000 images of selfies or photo identification that users submitted during account verification. Another 59,000 images that were publicly viewable in the app from posts, comments, and direct messages were also accessed, according to the company's statement. No email addresses or phone numbers were exposed, the company said, and the breach only affects users who signed up before February 2024. 'At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that additional user data was affected. Protecting Tea users' privacy and data is our highest priority,' Tea said. It said users did not need to change their passwords or delete their accounts. 'All data has been secured.'
Leaders
an hour ago
- Leaders
Saudi Team Secures 4 Awards at 2025 International Biology Olympiad in the Philippines
The Saudi Biology Team has secured a silver medal, two bronze medals, and a certificate of appreciation during its participation in the 36th edition of the International Biology Olympiad (IBO 2025), according to the Saudi Press Agency. Held from July 20 to 27 in the Philippine capital, Manila, IBO 2025 brought together 308 male and female students representing 80 countries from all over the world. The Saudi team consisted of four students who previously obtained required training and supervision from the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. #المنتخب_السعودي_للأحياء يحقق 4 جوائز في #أولمبياد_الأحياء_الدولي المقام في الفلبين 20-27يوليو 🥈فضية -عبدالله السبيعي @MOE_TIF⁰🥉برونزية -حمزة باعيسى @MOE_RYH -زياد النمري @RCJY_Yanbu⁰📜شهادة تقدير -حسن البحار @MOE_RYH تهانينا لهم — موهبة (@mawhiba) July 26, 2025 The Kingdom has been taking part in the International Biology Olympiad since 2022, earning a total of 4 silver medals, 7 bronze medals, as well as 4 certificates of appreciation. This mirrors the growing scientific capabilities of Saudi students and their readiness to compete on prestigious international academic stages. Launched in 1990 in the Czech Republic, the International Biology Olympiad represents one of the oldest and most prominent international science competitions for high school students. It features advanced theoretical and practical exams designed to foster scientific thinking, analytical abilities, as well as problem-solving skills across various fields of biology. Related Topics: Saudi Physics Team Shines with 4 Medals at 2025 International Olympiad ICAIRE Honored for Outstanding Contribution to AI Olympiad Saudi Biology Team Competes in 2025 International Biology Olympiad in Philippines Short link : Post Views: 7
Saudi Gazette
6 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia celebrates birth of Arabian oryx at Uroq Bani Ma'arid Reserve
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The National Center for Wildlife Development announced on Saturday the successful birth of an Arabian oryx at the Uroq Bani Ma'arid Reserve during the summer season. The center hailed the birth as a significant milestone in the success of its ecological protection programs, noting that the reserve's management has fostered a suitable environment for breeding, even during the harshest periods of drought. رصد المركز ولادة مها عربي في محمية عروق بني معارض خلال فصل الصيف، ما يعد مؤشر نجاح جديد لبرامج الحماية للنظم البيئية في المحمية جعل كفاءتها الرعوية ملائمة للتكاثر حتى في أشد مواسم الجفاف.#بحياتها_نحيا NCW has documented the birth of an Arabian oryx in the Uruq Bani Ma'arid... — المركز الوطني لتنمية الحياة الفطرية (@NCW_center) July 26, 2025 Saudi Arabia has long been a global leader in the protection of the Arabian oryx, having launched a national program in the 1970s in collaboration with international organizations. These efforts have included the establishment of protected areas like the Mahazat As-Sayd and Uroq Bani Ma'arid reserves, as well as breeding programs and gradual reintroduction initiatives.
