Namira Saleem, a Dubai-based Pakistani, holds the distinction of being the first Pakistani woman to hoist the Pakistani flag at both the North Pole (2007) and the South Pole (2008). Her achievements in polar exploration are remarkable.
Furthermore, she is set to be a part of Virgin Galactic’s upcoming mission, marking a significant milestone in her space endeavors. Virgin Galactic successfully conducted its first commercial spaceflight in late June 2023, which carried Italian experts into space. Subsequently, the company launched a spaceflight for tourists in August and another in September.
Namira Saleem will participate in the upcoming mission, which will carry three tourists, including herself, aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity spacecraft. This mission represents the company’s fourth commercial spaceflight overall.
Notably, Namira Salim was among the first 100 individuals to purchase tickets for Virgin Galactic’s space tourism venture. She had booked her ticket for this journey back in 2006 and is now realizing her dream of traveling to space.
In recognition of her contributions to space exploration, the Government of Pakistan declared Namira Saleem as the first Pakistani astronaut in 2006 and awarded her the Medal of Distinction in 2011. Her journey serves as an inspiration for aspiring astronauts and space enthusiasts, especially in Pakistan.
