Dr. Sarafina El-Badry Nance is an Egyptian-American astrophysicist who works at the intersection of research and communication. Currently, she is tackling the private space industry with an academic lens by managing LEO satellites at Loft Orbital. Her doctoral thesis methodology proposes a novel way of measuring the expanding universe using core-collapse supernovae.
She holds a doctorate and a masters degree from the University of California, Berkeley; and dual bachelors (hons) as a Dean’s Honored Graduate from the University of Texas at Austin. Nance is a Valoria III analog astronaut for HI-SEAS, where she simulated astronaut capabilities in collaboration with NASA. Her journey is depicted in the Seeker Field Trip series.
As a BRCA2+ carrier, Nance advocates for widespread genetic testing, reclaiming personal agency, and equity in healthcare. She is the author of the 2024-2025 Penguin Random House Common Read Starstruck: A Memoir of Astrophysics & Finding Light in the Dark.