PROFILE
Sara Sabry’s journey is an unconventional one. Her broad interests have continuously pushed her to explore beyond her comfort zone – going all in on the things that mattered.
Her wide range of experiences span from Mechatronics and Computational Fluid Dynamics, to Stem Cell Development (for Neurodegenerative Diseases), Robotic Surgery and Bioastronautics.
Outside of work, Sabry is very passionate about physical well-being and spent time as a Yoga Instructor and CrossFit coach in Egypt. Some of her other hobbies include MMA, Traveling, Scuba Diving, Marine Conservation, Flying and Baking.
Education
Sabry received her Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the American University in Cairo, with concentration in Mechatronics, and double minors in Biology and Chemistry. She then went on to complete a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano in Italy. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in Aerospace Sciences at The University of North Dakota with focus on Spacesuit Engineering & Design at the UND NASA-funded Human Spaceflight lab.
Missions
On August 4th, 2022 – Sara Sabry launched to space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket (NS-22) and became the first Egyptian Astronaut, and the first African woman and first Arab woman to reach space. Sabry was selected by Space for Humanity to go on a mission to experience the Overview Effect, and bring that back to Earth.
Sabry was selected as the world’s second Citizen Astronaut out of thousands of applicants from all over the world, and her seat to space was fully sponsored by both Space for Humanity and Blue Origin.
In early 2021, Sabry became Egypt’s first female Analog Astronaut after completing a 2-week moon mission simulation at LUNARES in Poland as the crew medical officer. As part of her astronaut training, she successfully completed the IIAS scientist-astronaut training program – a suborbital research qualification program – adding to her list of firsts and making her the first Egyptian woman trained and qualified to do research in space.
From Tech to Space and Entrepreneurship
In the course of Sabry’s academic and research work, her fascination with the physics of the universe evolved into an excitement for space exploration. Moving to industry, she realized the skills she had acquired in academia and in research were directly transferable. Fresh out of graduate school, Sabry was hired as the deputy CTO of a fast growing tech startup in Berlin focusing on Augmented Reality mobile applications. While working this full-time job, she also led teams of engineers and medical students to address certain Bioastronautics problems, but quickly realized how inaccessible the space field was for someone like her.
That is why Sara Sabry founded Deep Space Initiative (DSI), a non-profit organization that aims to increase accessibility in the space field by providing opportunities in research and education, while enabling deep space exploration for all Humankind.
SPEAKING TOPICS
USING LIFE'S OBSTACLES AS FUEL
As an Egyptian woman, I have always been told that engineering would be “too hard” for me, that I would never have any opportunities in my country if I chose to pursue the biomedical field, that being interested in the space field is a waste of time. My mission in life is to help others who have been told the same negative comments be able to take this energy, internalize it, and use it to drive them forward.
JOURNEY TO SPACE
Why and how I got selected to go to space, and all the details of the experience: astronaut training, mental preparation, sitting on a rocket, seeing Earth from space, capsule touchdown, and integrating into a new reality.
THE OVERVIEW EFFECT
The cognitive shift in perspective that astronauts experience while looking at Earth from space, how that changes you, and how it becomes a catalyst for making a difference on Earth. My overview effect was a very special one – as I looked at the blackness of the universe, I felt this strong connection with all of it, and everything made different sense. After coming back to Earth, I have felt this overwhelming sense of obligation to address some of the problems humanity is facing.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Finding simple solutions to the most complex of problems. How to take the first step into jumping into the unknown, overcoming imposter syndrome, and doing what needs to be done even if it feels like you don’t know what you are doing. This talk also covers the basics of how to speak the language of business, gaining power in every situation, and turning a “NO” into a “YES”.
BIOASTRONAUTICS RESEARCH AND SPACESUITS
Overview of the effects of being in deep space on the human body (physiological and psychological), and the gaps that are halting long duration space missions to the Moon and Mars.
What are the general design requirements of a planetary spacesuit, what are some of the problems we have with current designs, and what are the latest innovations in space tech.
