Sultan Bin Salman Al Saud - Early Experience

Early Experience

Sultan bin Salman started his career as a researcher in the Department of International Communications at the Ministry of Information in Saudi Arabia in 1982. He served as deputy director of Saudi Media Committee for the Saudi athletes participated in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Later that year, the Department of Advertising was created at the Ministry of Information, and he was appointed its acting director.

On 17 June through 24 June 1985, he flew as a payload specialist on STS-51-G Discovery. As one of a seven-member international crew, which also included American and French astronauts, he represented the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (ARABSAT) in deploying their satellite, ARABSAT-1B. Sultan also holds the record for being the youngest person to fly on the Space Shuttle, at the age of 28.

Later, he assisted the establishment of the Association of Space Explorers, an international organization comprising all astronauts and cosmonauts who have been in space, and served on its board of directors for several years.

In 1985, Sultan recorded a commercial message that was broadcast on MTV during the Live Aid concert event. His message mentioned his recent trip on the Space Shuttle and was one of 33 such by notable individuals including Caesar Chavez, Coretta Scott King, Carl Sagan, Jesse Jackson and Peter Ueberroth. Sultan bin Salman began to work as an officer in the Royal Saudi Air Force in 1985 and held the rank of lieutenant colonel. He retired in 1996 with the rank of colonel.