Anousheh Ansari

Anousheh Ansari, born in 1966 in Mashhad, Iran, is an Iranian-American entrepreneur and the first female private space explorer. In 2006, Ansari funded and flew a mission to the International Space Station, becoming the first Iranian in space and the first Muslim woman in space. Her historic spaceflight was funded through the Ansari X Prize, which she and her husband Hamid Ansari sponsored. Before her space mission, Ansari had already made a name for herself as a successful entrepreneur in the telecommunications industry, co-founding Telecom Technologies, Inc. Her space journey inspired millions of people, especially young women in Iran and across the Middle East. Ansari has since become a vocal advocate for space exploration, STEM education, and women's empowerment. She authored a memoir, 'My Dream of Stars,' detailing her journey from Iran to space.