Sultan bin Salman Al Saud
Who was Sultan bin Salman Al Saud?
Saudi royal who became the first Arab astronaut in space aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Sultan bin Salman Al Saud (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Sultan bin Salman Al Saud was born on June 27, 1956, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is the eldest surviving son of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and a grandson of King Abdulaziz, who founded modern Saudi Arabia. He studied abroad at Syracuse University and the University of Denver, where he became interested in communications and international affairs. After returning to Saudi Arabia, he pursued a career in the military and public service. Early in his career, he served as a pilot in the Royal Saudi Air Force, which played a key role in his selection for a historic spaceflight mission.
Before Fame
Growing up in the Saudi royal family during a time of fast modernization and an oil-driven economy, Sultan bin Salman had the chance to study in the United States. He attended Syracuse University and later the University of Denver. His military training as a Royal Saudi Air Force pilot, along with his education, made him a strong candidate for international space programs that aimed to include more countries beyond just the U.S. and Soviet Union. In the 1970s and early 1980s, Saudi Arabia's rising global importance encouraged the country to gain recognition through major scientific and cultural achievements, making a Saudi astronaut on a U.S. space shuttle a strategically important move.
Key Achievements
- Became the first Arab, first Muslim, and first member of a royal family to fly in space during the STS-51-G Space Shuttle mission in 1985.
- Served as a payload specialist responsible for the deployment of the Arab satellite Arabsat-1B, advancing regional communications infrastructure.
- Appointed chairman of the Saudi Space Commission in 2018 with ministerial rank, overseeing the kingdom's national space program.
- Received the Knight of the Legion of Honour from France and numerous other international awards for contributions to diplomacy and public service.
- Established a long career in Saudi public administration and cultural heritage, including leadership roles in the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.
Did You Know?
- 01.At 28 years old when he flew in space, Sultan bin Salman remains the youngest person ever to fly aboard a Space Shuttle.
- 02.He flew as a payload specialist on the STS-51-G mission in June 1985, primarily to oversee the deployment of the Arab satellite Arabsat-1B.
- 03.He is simultaneously the first member of any royal family, the first Arab, and the first Muslim to have traveled to space.
- 04.He was appointed chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Space Commission on 27 December 2018, with the rank of minister, bringing his spaceflight experience into direct national policy.
- 05.Sultan bin Salman holds multiple foreign orders of honor, including France's Knight of the Legion of Honour and decorations from Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Morocco, reflecting his extensive diplomatic engagement.
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Knight of the Legion of Honour | — | — |
| Order of King Abdulaziz al Saud | — | — |
| Kuwait Liberation Medal | — | — |
| Kuwait Liberation Medal | — | — |
| Order of Kuwait | — | — |
| Order of Bahrain | — | — |
| Grand Cross of the Order of Excellence | — | — |
| Order of Independence | — | — |
| Order of the Throne | — | — |
| Order of the Republic | — | — |
| Order of Military Merit (Syria) | — | — |