Namira Salim, a trailblazing Pakistani and the founder of Space Trust, is poised to etch her name in history as the first Pakistani to venture into space. This monumental journey with Virgin Galactic, scheduled for Friday, stands as a moment of immense pride and honor for Pakistan, as Salim represents her nation on a global stage.
Expressing her immense pride and enthusiasm in representing Pakistan in the cosmic realm, Salim has taken to social media to share her excitement and anticipation for this groundbreaking flight. Alongside her on this extraordinary spaceflight are Trevor Beattie, a prominent British advertising professional, and Ron Rosano, a distinguished US astronomy educator. Beth Moses, Virgin Galactic’s chief astronaut instructor, will also be part of this historic group.
Virgin Galactic’s fourth mission in 2023, Galactic 04, is a significant stride toward realizing accessible space tourism. Salim, amongst the three paying customers, will experience a suborbital spaceflight aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity spaceplane. The launch, set to take place from New Mexico’s Spaceport America, promises passengers several minutes of weightlessness and a breathtaking view of the Earth’s curvature against the backdrop of outer space, although the flight won’t attain orbital altitude.
This pioneering endeavour by Namira Salim exemplifies the evolving landscape of space exploration, emphasising inclusivity and inspiring future generations to reach for the stars, fostering a sense of unity and wonder on a global scale.
