MIT-trained engineer and future Blue Origin astronaut Emily Calandrelli recently made history by becoming the 100th woman in space. His journey on Blue Origin’s latest manned space flight has solidified his position as a leader in the space industry.
passion for space
Emily Calandrelli’s fascination with space and science began at an early age. With a bachelor’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from West Virginia University (WVU), he quickly made his mark in the world of aerospace. His academic journey continued at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he completed his Master’s in Technology and Policy as well as Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Ms. Calandrelli’s LinkedIn profile describes her as “MIT engineer turned Emmy-nominated science TV host, #1 New York Times bestselling author, Blue Origin astronaut and TEDx speaker (x3).”
engineer turned tv host
In addition to her technical expertise, Ms. Calandrelli is a science communicator, known for making complex topics accessible to the public. She is the host and co-executive producer of Emily’s Wonder Lab on Netflix, where she is known as ‘Space Gal’. His work on the show, which encourages young minds to explore science through fun experiments, is an example of his dedication to science education.
He has also served as a correspondent on Netflix’s Bill Nye Saves the World and as executive producer and host of Exploring Outer Space, a Fox educational show on space exploration. She is also a regular contributor to TechCrunch, where she writes about developments in the space industry.
Ms. Calandrelli’s passion for science and technology is further reflected in her book series, Ada’s Adventures, For children aged 6-10 years. He has also written a picture book, reach for the stars, In addition to NYT bestsellers, Stay curious and keep exploring.
Empowering women in STEM
Emily Calandrelli is dedicated to encouraging young girls and women of color to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). She believes that many young students, especially women and minorities, are unaware of the incredible opportunities available to them in STEM fields. Ms. Calandrelli aims to change this through her work, and make STEM more inclusive and accessible to all.
Overcoming Online Harassment
Ms Calandrelli has been the victim of online harassment since her space flight. When he expressed his awe and excitement after crossing the Karman Line – the boundary between the Earth’s atmosphere and space – his reaction faced criticism from online trolls who sexualised his reaction. In a video shared by Blue Origin, abusive comments overshadowed Emily’s emotional comments, forcing the company to remove the original video from social media and post an edited version.
Still, Ms. Calandrelli refused to let the negativity affect her. Sharing a powerful message on social media, she said, “I refuse to give too much time to little people on the internet. I feel the experience in my soul. She added, “I will not apologize or feel awkward about my reaction. It’s totally mine and I love it. When I can, I’ll share it again with you all myself.”
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Despite the trolls, she focuses on the positive impact of her journey. A representative for Emily told CNN that she preferred to focus on the “positive impact” of her trip rather than engage in “misguided” comments.
