March 23, 2021

To fulfill her childhood dream, Sahar El Nadi signs up for the first civilian week-long mission to the Moon. The rocket developed by Elon Musk’s Space X will make a week-long journey to the moon and back. In 2018, Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa purchased all the seats aboard this rocket. Wishing to give as many talented individuals as possible the opportunity to go, he announced in March 2021 his plan to choose 8 crew members from across the world.

“Regardless of the selection outcome, for me the achievement is that I overcame my hesitation and signed up at the last minute. I knew about this journey for a while and I have been following them both [Musk & Maezawa]. Every day I dreamt of going and then changed my mind, until the decisive moment; Either I sign up and go through the experience as far as it takes me, wherever that is, or I back off, and never find out what could have happened, and regret it for the rest of my life. So I chose to try,” Sahar explained.

Sahar decided to join this adventure for several reasons, the most important of which is to prove that there are no limits to anyone’s achievement, whatever her/his circumstances are. She also wants to prove that women have no expiration date, that once she reaches it, she waits for her turn to die. Furthermore, she wants to encourage girls and women at any age to dream, and that there are no limits to these dreams, whether to go somewhere or accomplish a professional  goal; There is no age to learn, develop, become adventurous and discover new horizons.

Sahar aspires to take the Egyptian flag beyond the moon, while wearing the most advanced space suit, equipped with the latest technology known to mankind. She is aware that her chances to be selected are slim. She is also aware of the risks involved in every phase, pre, during and after launch, in orbit or after returning to Earth. “It is possible to live with health or psychological problems for the rest of your life because no one knows the impact of the trip on people, because no one has done it before. I don’t know how someone can live in a capsule with a small group of people for a week. There are yet too many unknown details; the food, hygiene and sleeping in strange circumstances, risks, and consequences.

Despite all that, she is keen to fulfill her childhood dream, even by signing up and imaging it. 

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