Speaking with Al Arabiya English in a wide-ranging interview, Prince Sultan discussed the future of Saudi spaceflight, reflected on his life-changing voyage into space, and shared his admiration for the new generation of Arab astronauts.
“Saudi Arabia, of course, is going back to space. We have to go back to space, but we have to go back to space with the perspective of not just bringing things back, but pushing the envelope, pushing technology to help us here on Earth,” Prince Sultan told Al Arabiya English on Friday.
The son of King Salman made history on June 17, 1985 when he became the first Arab, first Muslim, and first member of a royal family to leave earth’s orbit by embarking on a mission aboard the Discovery space shuttle.
He joined a crew of five Americans and one Frenchman on the flight to deliver three satellites into orbit – including the ARABSAT-1B for which he was a payload specialist.
Na wale wasiofahamu Kingereza, tafsiri kwa msaada wa google":
Akizungumza na Al Arabiya English katika mahojiano ya kina, Prince Sultan alijadili mustakabali wa anga za juu za Saudi Arabia, alitafakari juu ya safari yake ya kubadilisha maisha katika anga za juu, na akashiriki pongezi zake kwa kizazi kipya cha wanaanga wa Kiarabu.
"Saudi Arabia, bila shaka, inarudi kwenye anga za juu. Tunapaswa kurudi anga za juu, lakini tunapaswa kurudi anga za juu kwa mtazamo wa sio tu kurudisha vitu, bali kusukuma bahasha, kusukuma teknolojia ili kutusaidia hapa duniani," Prince Sultan aliiambia Al Arabiya English Ijumaa.
Mwana wa Mfalme Salman aliweka historia Juni 17, 1985 wakati alipokuwa Mwarabu wa kwanza, Muislamu wa kwanza, na mwanachama wa kwanza wa familia ya kifalme kuondoka kwenye mzunguko wa dunia kwa kuanza misheni ndani ya chumba cha anga za juu cha Discovery.
Alijiunga na wafanyakazi watano wa Marekani na Mfaransa mmoja kwenye ndege hiyo ili kupeleka satelaiti tatu kwenye mzunguko - ikiwa ni pamoja na ARABSAT-1B ambayo alikuwa mtaalamu wa mzigo wa malipo.