The Saudi Space Commission (SSC) and the American Space Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have explored cooperation between the two countries in space technology.
During the meeting, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Space Commission Eng. Abdullah Amer Al-Sawaha and Ms. Pamela Melroy, the Deputy Administrator of the American Space Agency (NASA) in Washington DC, discussed investment in future joint projects to achieve mutual economic and strategic goals.
This meeting came as part of a tour by Eng. Al-Sawaha to the United States, which included visits to American institutions and companies working in the space sector, with the goal of enhancing the Commission’s efforts in developing the sector and cooperating with various international space and technology organizations.
The meeting was attended by HRH Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud, the Saudi Ambassador to the United States of America, Dr. Munir Al-Desouki, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, and the President-designate of the Saudi Space Commission, Dr. Muhammad bin Saud Al Tamimi.
In March, SSC signed an MoU with the UK Space Agency for peaceful use of outer space and to provide a framework for cooperation in space activities, reviewing areas of common interest in the peaceful uses of space, and facilitating the exchange of information, technologies, and individuals working in related fields on both sides to enhance cooperation in space and its technologies.
Since its inception in December 2018, the Kingdom’s state-funded space agency has signed agreements to further cooperation with the European Space Agency, UK, France, and Hungary.
In 2020, Saudi Arabia announced plans to invest $2.1 billion in the space industry as part of its Vision 2030 reform plan, a long-term strategy to diversify the Kingdom’s economy away from oil and adopt a wide range of next-generation sectors.
