Citizen Astronauts
(CA)
S4H Citizen Astronauts are chosen through our inclusive selection process for their dedication to creating lasting impact in the world. The main difference between a S4H CA and Citizen Astronaut Ambassador is that S4H CA’s are going to space through the orchestration of the S4H team.
S4H CA’s also take our CAP program to prepare for flight and become CAP Graduates. They also do a year-long post-flight impact project in which we meet monthly to support and track impact markers to help encourage and ensure CA’s become impactful leaders in their communities.
Katya Echazarreta
Citizen Astronaut-1
Blue Origin
Flight: NS-19
Katya Echazarreta is an electrical and computer engineer, a science educator, and the first citizen astronaut of Space for Humanity (S4H). She was selected from over 7,000 applicants to fly on Blue Origin’s New Shepard for NS-21, becoming the first Mexican-born woman to fly to space on June 4, 2022.
From the tear-filled moment we told her she’d be our first Citizen Astronaut (CA) to go to Space, Katya has walked the walk of a CA. From her ability to connect with people from all over the world, to her dedication to creating profound change in Mexico via her post-flight platform, Katya is changing lives across North America.
Katya was selected out of over 7000 applicants to Space for Humanity’s Citizen Astronaut Program.
Here are a selection of her accomplishments since spaceflight:
Founded The Katya Echazarreta Space Foundation, a non-profit encouraging Mexicans to develop skills to carry out advanced studies in the space field. planetary, protection of the planet and the environment. Through her foundation, she established Aerospace Camps, fueling the passion for technology and aerospace science in children and young people. Their 2023 mission was a simulation to Mars! They are already calling for collaborators for their 2024 mission.
Helped pass a constitutional reform to create Space Activities as a national priority, in the Mexican Congress.
Presented two bills in the Mexican Senate on cyberbullying and achieving gender parity in sports.
Oversaw an agreement to promote the participation of girls and women in science
Katya’s achievements include meeting US Vice-President Kamala Harris, the Mexican President, and receiving the key to Mexico City. She was honored with an honorary doctorate from OMLID World Leaders, and the Katya Echazarreta Comet Auditorium in Zapopan and the Katya Echazarreta Planetarium in Mexico City were named after her. She received the keys to Guadalajara, attended the Congressional Space Medal of Honor awards, and returned to San Diego Comic-Con to promote William Shatner’s documentary.
Katya was immortalized in Mattel’s Barbie Role Models campaign, received the General Emiliano Zapata Award for Cultural and Educational Merit, and was nominated for the 2023 Kids’ Choice Awards in the DREAMING BIG category. She has also made significant strides in the fashion industry, gracing the covers of Wired En Espanol, Forbes, Cosmopolitan MX, Marie Claire Mexico, and Vogue Mexico, walking the Paris Runway for L’Oreal, and being named Glamour Mexico Woman of the Year.
Sara Sabry
Citizen Astronaut-2
Blue Origin
Flight: NS-21
Our second Citizen Astronaut, Sara Sabry, is a trailblazer carving her own path. On August 4, 2022, only two months after the launch of our first Citizen Astronaut, Sara flew to Space on Blue Origin’s NS-22, becoming the first African woman, Arab woman, and the first Egyptian person to reach space. Since her return from space, Sara has been working tirelessly to establish partnerships that will have a lasting impact on Egypt's space industry. Through her company, Deep Space Initiative, she is expanding access and opportunities for space research globally. Her current research focuses on three key areas: astronaut health and performance, space transportation systems, and space architecture.
Citizen Astronaut Two has found an uphill journey to win the hearts and minds of Egyptians, and the wider Arab and African communities. Her passion for accelerating Egypt’s participation in space activities continues to shake at the current establishment and the rigid views they sometimes can represent. But we’ve yet to witness an obstacle CA-2’s warm, genuine personality can’t melt the moment they meet our second CAP graduate.
Sara founded the Deep Space Initiative with the mission to dissolve barriers and make space accessible to all. She is the first African and Arab woman, as well as the first Egyptian person, to go to space. As Egypt’s first analog astronaut, Sara was named an IAF Emerging Space Leader. She shared her inspiring journey and the power of self-belief in a TedXMIU talk.
Sara’s efforts to make space exploration more accessible were highlighted in a CNN article, and she appeared in a USAID commercial promoting Egypt’s Family Planning Program. Invited to speak at the Forbes Middle East Women’s Summit, she also presented at the ASU “Space2inspire” event alongside other astronauts, including host Sian Proctor. During a publicity tour of Cairo, she visited schools and engaged with the Egyptian press with Director of Programs, Aisha Said. Additionally, Sara was a special guest on a panel at the Africa50 Infra Forum and General Shareholders Meeting in Lomé, Togo.