The countdown clock shows Axiom Mission Two astronauts at NASA s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on May 21, 2023. Two Saudi astronauts, including the first Saudi woman, will blast off from Florida on May 21 on a private mission to the International Space Station (ISS). AFP

Members of the Axiom Mission 2 (L-R) Mission specialist Rayyanah Barnawi, of Saudi Arabia, commander and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, of the US, pilot John Shoffner, of the US, and mission specialist Ali Alqarni, of Saudi Arabia, pose for a photo upon their arrival at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on May 21, 2023. Two Saudi astronauts, including the first Saudi woman, will blast off from Florida on May 21 on a private mission to the International Space Station (ISS). AFP

The crew of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the Crew Dragon spacecraft, from left, Saudi Arabian astronaut Rayyanah Barnawi, commandeer Peggy Whitson, pilot John Shoffner and Saudi Arabian astronaut Ali al-Qarni arrive at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., before their launch to the International Space Station, Sunday, May 21, 2023. AP

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Axiom Mission 2 astronauts lifts off from pad 39A at NASA s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 21, 2023. Two Saudi astronauts, including the first Saudi woman, will blast off from Florida on May 21 on a private mission to the International Space Station (ISS). AFP

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on May 21, 2023 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Saudi Arabia s first astronaut class, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni, along with former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, and John Shoffner are flying to the International Space Station. AFP

The booster returns after the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft launched from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on May 21, 2023 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Saudi Arabia s first astronaut class, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni, along with former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, and John Shoffner are flying to the International Space Station. AFP

People walk past a poster with the picture of Saudi Space Commission astronauts Ali Al-Qarni (L) and Rayyanah Barnawi, of the Axiom Mission 2, at a government-organised viewing party in Riyadh on May 21, 2023. Two Saudi astronauts, including the first Saudi woman, will blast off from Florida on May 21 on a private mission to the International Space Station (ISS). AFP

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on May 21, 2023 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Saudi Arabia s first astronaut class, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni, along with former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, and John Shoffner are flying to the International Space Station. AFP

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on May 21, 2023 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Saudi Arabia s first astronaut class, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni, along with former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, and John Shoffner are flying to the International Space Station. AFP

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on May 21, 2023 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Saudi Arabia s first astronaut class, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni, along with former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, and John Shoffner are flying to the International Space Station. AFP

A handout picture provided by the Saudi Space Commission (SSC) and dated December 15, 2022, shows Saudi astronaut and member of the upcoming Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) Ali Alqarni during a training. The Ax-2 mission will take off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida on May 21 on a private mission to the International Space Station (ISS). AFP

A handout picture provided by the Saudi Space Commission (SSC) and dated December 15, 2022, shows Saudi astronaut and member of the upcoming Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) Rayyanah Barnawi during a training. The Ax-2 mission will take off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida on May 21 on a private mission to the International Space Station (ISS). AFP