Over 100 astronauts to attend Riyadh meet

Prince Sultan, who is also president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, attributed the growth to the active role being played by King Abdullah as part of his intensive drive to promote a knowledge-based economy in the Kingdom. Prince Sultan was addressing a press conference on Saturday ahead of the 25th annual Association of Space Explorers Congress (ASE) and the 2nd Saudi International Space and Aeronautics Technology Conference scheduled to be held here from Nov. 5-10.

The conference will be attended by more than 100 astronauts from 18 different countries along with experts in the space and aeronautics sector from all around the world. Prince Sultan made history when he became the first Muslim and Arab astronaut to fly as a payload specialist on STS-51-G Discovery from June 17 to 24, 1985.
Prince Sultan said: "Today we see King Abdullah pushes this country toward the highest horizon - a new horizon in the field of science and technical areas in all its forms, including space technology.

He commended the attention being given by the Kingdom to science, space and technology and its importance in national development, as one of the most prominent main founders of the Arab Satellite Communications Organization Arabsat and main contributor to this project. This conference will showcase Saudi Arabia's capacity in organizing this important high-profile conference.

The head of the SCTA has also arranged a comprehensive program for all the participating delegations including their families to explore and discover Saudi Arabia by providing its guests all avenues of hospitality and Saudi Arabia's typical entertainment program.

They will be visiting Saudi tourist spots and historical places.
"We would like to show them our hospitality and the beauty of this country," Prince Sultan said.

The Saudi International Space and Aeronautics Technology Conference is being organized by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), an autonomous scientific organization that reports to the prime minister. It acts as both the Saudi Arabian National Science Agency and the country's national laboratory.

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