Abdulmohsen Al-Bassam

The mission of STS-51-G Discovery in June 1985 saw Abdulmohsen Al-Bassam selected as the back-up payload specialist for the deployment of the Arabsat-1B satellite. His involvement in this space flight program marked a significant period in the Saudi Arabian space exploration effort during the mid-1980s.

Early Career and Aviation Training

Born in 1948 in Unaizah, Saudi Arabia, Al-Bassam pursued a career in military aviation. He enrolled at the King Faisal Air Academy located in Riyadh, where he completed his Bachelor of Science in Air Science. Following his graduation, he served as a fighter pilot within the Royal Saudi Air Force.

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Participation in STS-51-G

In April 1985, Al-Bassam was selected to participate in the space program. He functioned as the back-up payload specialist for Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud during the STS-51-G mission. This flight, which took place from June 17 to June 24, 1985, focused on the deployment of the Arabsat-1B satellite. Upon the completion of this mission, he concluded his duties as a payload specialist.

Later Professional Service

Following his transition from active space flight duties, Al-Bassam continued his service within the military and diplomatic spheres. He reached the rank of general and represented his country abroad, serving as the Air Force Attache at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in London, United Kingdom.