'I’ve committed my life to this cause': Sara Sabry shares her mission to make space exploration more inclusive

Sara Sabry made history last year as the first Egyptian, Arab woman, and African woman to journey into space.

With expertise in engineering and bioastronautics, Sabry was selected by the nonprofit organization Space for Humanity to join five other space tourists on the Blue Origin NS-22 sub-orbital flight in August 2022.

Now working towards a Ph.D. in aerospace sciences at the University of North Dakota, the 30-year-old reflects on how, in the field of space research, 'opportunities are scarce if you’re not from the West.' To address this, she founded Deep Space Initiative, a Colorado-based nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to the space industry for individuals from diverse backgrounds through research and educational opportunities.

Dinogo interviewed Sabry at the Dubai Airshow last week to learn more about her space journey and the motivation behind founding Deep Space Initiative.

The interview has been slightly condensed for brevity and clarity.

Dinogo: What was your reaction when you learned you had been selected to travel to space?

Sabry: I received the call on the anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, exactly 50 years since the first humans landed on the moon. It was an incredibly meaningful day for me. Coming from where I do, space always seemed out of reach, so it was hard to fully grasp. But it’s a responsibility I now carry with great pride.

Dinogo: What was it like when you lifted off?

Sabry: It was the most thrilling experience of my life. As the engines roared to life beneath me, the sky quickly shifted from light blue to deep blue, then purple, and finally black—that was the only sign I was actually in space. It was a breathtaking sight, and I felt an overwhelming sense of freedom. It's the most liberating sensation anyone could have.

Dinogo: What was your emotional response when you first saw Earth from space?

Sabry: It was disorienting, because we haven’t evolved biologically to view Earth from that vantage point. We tend to perceive space as distant and separate from our planet, but it’s not. Once that realization hits, it shatters your perception of reality, and your understanding of the world transforms. For me, it altered my perspective on the world’s scale and how deeply everything is interconnected.

Dinogo: What motivated you to create the Deep Space Initiative?

Sabry: As I became more involved in the space industry, I realized how many challenges exist, especially for those who aren’t from the West—whether they’re not US citizens or not European. My initiative aims to tackle these challenges by offering people from diverse backgrounds the chance to address these issues from their own perspectives. Right now, we have around 205 individuals from 28 countries working on 53 space projects, which is truly inspiring.

Dinogo: What milestones have you reached so far with your company?

Sabry: Deep Space Initiative has launched several research programs, and it’s incredible to see the level of excellence that’s emerged from these teams—people who would not have had access to such opportunities otherwise. These individuals are incredibly talented and well-qualified for this research, but they simply needed the chance. They needed someone to believe in them. My hope is that this initiative will provide that belief to many more people globally.

Dinogo: Why is it so crucial to ensure representation and accessibility in space?

Sabry: By restricting opportunities for certain nationalities, we also restrict the range of problems we can solve and the progress we can make in specific fields. As for representation, it demonstrates that anything is possible. Becoming an astronaut was never a childhood dream for me because it wasn’t something I was exposed to, and we were always told it wasn’t for people like us. Having representation tells you, 'Someone else has done this, and so can you.'

Dinogo: What does it mean to you to be the first Egyptian, African, and Arab woman to travel to space?

Sabry: When I sat in that rocket, I wasn’t just flying to space for myself; I was carrying my country and my continent with me. It felt like a major step forward, not only for me but for many others. It was about showing that things are possible, even when we’re told they’re not. Every morning, I wake up with the purpose of making decisions that serve that mission. I’ve dedicated my life to it.