Pakistani Woman Readied for SubOrbital Spaceflight in 2009

Having made her name in Pakistan as a sculptor, musician, designer and poet, Namira Salim is poised to become the first Pakistani woman astronaut spaceflight participant as one of the first 100 people to fly aboard a Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 spaceliner in 2009 from either the Mojave Spaceport in California or Spaceport America in New Mexico.

Salim, 35, was selected by Sir Richard Branson in March 2006 from among 44,000 candidates to be one of the first space tourists. She recently completed ground training.

"I am not only proud to be the first Pakistani, but particularly proud to be the first female from Pakistan to have had such a phenomenal experience," Salim recently told The Times of India.