“Not even the sky is the limit”
Madrid, Dec 11 (EFE).- By Lucía Pereda Hernández
“Not even the sky is the limit,” says American aerospace engineer Emily Calandrelli, the 100th woman to venture into space, calling on young girls to pursue their dreams in science and beyond.
In an interview with EFE, Calandrelli hoped her journey into space would inspire young girls to dream beyond boundaries.
Born in Virginia in 1987, Calandrelli is a mechanical and aerospace engineer, science communicator, and writer. On Nov. 22, she joined the NS-28 mission by Blue Origin, the private aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos.
Reflecting on her historic achievement, Calandrelli acknowledged the legacy of the 99 women who preceded her in space. She paid tribute to Valentina Tereshkova, the Russian engineer and politician who became the first woman in space aboard Vostok 6 in 1963. “The 99 women before me really fought hard for their place in space,” she said.
In her response to an EFE questionnaire, Calandrelli emphasized her desire to inspire younger generations. “I want them to see a girl who never saw herself in science but ended up among the stars so that they can see themselves in their dreams too.”
Her mission, she explained, extends beyond her time in space. With a massive following of over 3 million online fans and viewers in 100 million households who watch her show Xploration Outer Space, she aims to encourage more girls to pursue STEM careers.
Controversy on Social Media
After Blue Origin shared a video of Calandrelli’s reaction to seeing Earth from space, social media users criticized her, accusing her of being overly emotional and questioning her status as an astronaut. Some comments were overtly sexist, prompting the company to remove the video.
Calandrelli responded unapologetically. “I think many men will go out of their way to try to belittle accomplished women, so I don’t find my experience particularly unique or noteworthy. It’s something most women I know have experienced.”
Space Tourism and Future Aspirations
Calandrelli’s suborbital journey lasted about 10 minutes, carrying six civilian passengers past the Kármán Line, considered the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.
She expressed optimism about space tourism, likening it to the awe of seeing the ocean. “It’s the most remarkable, life-changing experience, and I suspect that many will want to do this over and over. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve seen it, it’s still wonderful to return.”
As one of fewer than 700 people to have experienced space travel, Calandrelli feels “lucky” to have contributed to its future.
She believes her insights from the flight will aid the development of advanced orbital vehicles and expand the scope of space exploration, despite the inherent risks.
“This was a dream decades in the making. I feel unbelievably proud and grateful for this moment, for this view that so few have seen. I also feel proud to be participating in this early era of commercial spaceflight.” EFE
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