Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. "Every story comes to an end, and this is only the beginning of a new era for our country and our region," Barnawi said during a farewell ceremony on the ISS on Monday (May 29). "So, [I'd] just like to thank everyone here who has helped us," she added, fighting back tears. The four Axiom Space Ax-2 astronauts wave inside their SpaceX Dragon capsule Freedom after splashdown and recovery in the Gulf of Mexico on May 30, 2023. They are (from left): Saudi astronaut Rayyanah Barnawi; pilot John Shoffner; commander Peggy Whitson; and Saudi astronaut Ali AlQarni. (Image credit: SpaceX) Whitson — who has spent more time in space than any other American and any other woman — also choked up during the farewell ceremony. (Her spaceflight record stood at 665 days before Ax-2's launch. She is also the first woman to command a private space mission.) "These guys, they welcomed us onboard," the Ax-2 commander said, referring to the crewmembers of the ISS' current Expedition 69 mission. "And they've helped us a lot, but they've also just been so courteous and kind. And we really appreciate all of that; we felt at home while we were here. Thank you, and I will be back!" RELATED STORIES: