Namira Salim, the first Pakistani astronaut to embark on a space journey, has successfully concluded her historic voyage aboard Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity.
She proudly commemorated her achievement as the "FIRST Pakistani Astronaut" and the "First Female Virgin Galactic Founder Astronaut."
From Space back to Earth! Flat Pakistani Astronaut. First Female Virgin Galactic Founder Astronaut! And many more Firsts! ✨🚀✨ pic.twitter.com/yliUjwtQOB
— Namira Salim (@namirasalim) October 6, 2023
Before her space expedition, she expressed her pride in representing Pakistan by unfurling the national flag in space.
Salim was a part of the Galactic 04 mission, traveling alongside three other space enthusiasts.
Virgin Galactic briefly postponed the mission to ensure the vehicle's readiness, allowing three paying customers to experience suborbital space travel.
During their voyage, they enjoyed several minutes of weightlessness and beheld the Earth's curvature against the backdrop of space.
The carrier aircraft for VSS Unity, 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 initial 100 individuals to secure a ticket with Virgin Galactic back in 2006, and the price of her ticket has appreciated to $450,000 since then.
Apart from her remarkable space journey, Salim is the founder of the nonprofit organization Space Trust.
She has also previously explored both the North and South Poles, solidifying her reputation as a pioneer in the realms of space exploration and global travel.
