Saudi Arabia to host space tourism firm Halo’s test flight, amid space exploration ambitions

Saudi Arabia is set to host the next test flight of space tourism firm Halo in September, the kingdom announced on Wednesday.

The upcoming test flight will feature a life-size prototype capsule called Aurora, which will ascend to 30 kilometres above the earth's surface.

The flight will be used to check and validate the integrated operation of all critical systems developed over the past three years, Halo Space said, as cited by Arab News on Wednesday.

"The dates and location were set to ensure the reliable operation of our equipment and safe conditions for the teams that will be on the ground operating the flight," said Alberto Castrillo, chief technology officer at Halo Space.

The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), a Saudi government agency, has been reportedly providing support to Halo Space since the start of the year, Arab News said, in preparation for the test flight.

Halo Space’s prototype capsule test flights are a prelude to the launch of manned flights, slated to begin next year, to be followed by commercial flights in 2026.

The Kingdom has been steadily involving itself in space technology over the years, as it seeks to diversify and expand its economic ventures beyond oil production, as part of its Vision 2030 strategy.

In 2018, the Gulf kingdom ordered the creation of the Saudi Space Agency in a move that state media said would establish the country as a "centre of excellence in the field of satellite communications and promote this service to the region".

In May last year, Saudi Arabia sent its first female astronaut to the International Space Station for a nine-day assignment with the AX-2 space mission.

In July, Riyadh signed a deal with US space agency NASA on civilian space exploration and research, the Saudi Press Agency confirmed.

The Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) was established 23 years ago and oversees the Internet and communications in Saudi Arabia. It has been tasked with developing the growing ICT sector in the country as part of Vision 2030.

CST has also been working with other government entities such as the General Authority of Civil Aviation to meet all the regulatory requirements for the space flight.

The ambitious Vision 2030 economic strategy, however, has been marred by financial difficulties and concerns over human rights abuses with critics saying that it shouldn't "distract" from the kingdom's poor human rights record.