Namira Salim, the first Pakistani astronaut to embark on a space journey, successfully concluded her historic journey aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity.
She proudly commemorated her achievement as “FIRST Pakistani Astronaut” and “First Female Astronaut Founder of Virgin Galactic”.
From space back to Earth! Pakistani astronaut flat. Virgin Galactic’s first founding astronaut! And many more firsts! ✨🚀✨ pic.twitter.com/yliUjwtQOB
– Namira Salim (@namirarasalim) October 6, 2023
Before his space expedition, he expressed his pride in representing Pakistan by unfurling the national flag in space.
Salim was part of the Galactica 04 mission and traveled with three other space enthusiasts.
Virgin Galactic briefly postponed the mission to ensure vehicle availability, allowing three paying customers to experience suborbital space travel.
During their trip, they enjoyed several minutes of weightlessness and contemplated the curvature of the Earth in the context of space.
VSS Unity’s carrier aircraft, VMS Eve, was under the command of Jameel Janjua, a Canadian of Pakistani origin with extensive flying experience.
How much did Namira Salim’s space ticket cost?
Namira Salim was among the first 100 people to get a ticket with Virgin Galactic in 2006, and the price of her ticket has appreciated to $450,000 since then.
In addition to her notable space travel, Salim is the founder of the nonprofit Space Trust.
She has also previously explored the North and South Poles, solidifying her reputation as a pioneer in the realm of space exploration and global travel.