Emily Calandrelli, the 100th woman to travel to space, recently joined a group of six space tourists on a Blue Origin mission. The launch, led by Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company, was a monumental achievement for Calandrelli, an MIT engineer and Netflix host known as the “Space Gal.”
During the trip, Calandrelli experienced weightlessness and gazed at Earth from the vastness of space. In a heartfelt video posted on social media, she described the awe-inspiring moment:
“We got to weightlessness, I immediately turned upside down and looked at the planet, and then there was so much blackness. There was so much space. I didn’t expect to see so much space, and I kept saying that’s our planet! That’s our planet! It was the same feeling I got when my kids were born, and I was like, ‘That’s my baby!’”
Her emotional reaction resonated with many, but sadly, it also drew a wave of hateful and objectifying comments online. Some trolls sexualized her reaction, prompting Blue Origin to take down the original video from its social media platforms.
Despite the negativity, Calandrelli refused to let the hate diminish her joy. In an Instagram post, she expressed her resilience:
“I feel experiences in my soul. It’s a trait I got from my father. We feel every emotion deeply and what a beautiful way that is to experience life. This joy is tattooed on my heart. I will not apologize or feel weird about my reaction. It’s wholly mine and I love it.”
Calandrelli emphasized the importance of women sharing their unique perspectives on space travel. She told CNN, “The beauty of sending more women into space is that they get to describe it in a way that moms can understand, that women can understand.”
As a host of Netflix’s Emily’s Wonder Lab, Calandrelli inspires audiences by blending science and storytelling. Her journey to space is a testament to her passion and courage, even in the face of unwarranted criticism.
Blue Origin has not commented on the incident, but Calandrelli’s story highlights both the beauty of her achievement and the resilience required to rise above online hate. Her joy and authenticity continue to inspire countless others, especially women, to dream big and embrace their passions unapologetically.
