AUSTIN, Texas — Emily Calandrelli, an MIT engineer and TV host known as “Space Gal,” made history on her recent flight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, becoming the 100th woman to travel into space. However, less than 24 hours after her life-changing experience, the 100th woman in space found herself facing a wave of negative comments from online trolls, who sexualized her emotional and raw reaction to the milestone.
Emily Calandrelli
In a powerful response shared on social media, Calandrelli expressed her refusal to let the hateful remarks overshadow the joy and awe she felt while gazing at Earth from space. “I refuse to give much time to the small men on the internet,” she declared. “I feel experiences in my soul, and I will not apologize or feel weird about my reaction. It’s wholly mine and I love it.”
Her emotional response during the Blue Origin flight was captured in a video, which shows Calandrelli gazing out of the rocket’s window and exclaiming, “Oh my God, this is space.” The moment was a culmination of a dream she had been working towards for decades. The video quickly garnered hundreds of supportive comments from followers, with many praising Calandrelli as an inspiration to women and girls everywhere.
However, the video also attracted a barrage of offensive comments, leading Blue Origin to remove the original clip and replace it with an edited version, according to Calandrelli. Despite the negative attention, the astronaut remained focused on the joy of her journey and the inspiration she hoped to bring to others, especially young girls aspiring to follow in her footsteps.
Reflecting on the experience, Calandrelli compared her first glimpse of Earth from space to the overwhelming emotions of motherhood. “It was the same feeling I got when my kids were born,” she said, describing the moment as one of pure awe. “I’m like, seeing it for the first time.”
Calandrelli, who was one of six space tourists aboard the New Shepard rocket for Blue Origin’s ninth human spaceflight, took her mission above the Kármán line, the boundary that separates Earth’s atmosphere from outer space. Upon returning safely to Earth, she shared her experience with fellow astronauts Sharon and Marc Hagle, Austin Litteral, James (J.D.) Russell, and Henry (Hank) Wolfond.
In a touching moment after the flight, Calandrelli described the encouragement she received from a Southwest Airlines flight attendant, who recognized her and whispered, “Don’t let them dull your shine.” It was a reminder of the support and camaraderie she feels with women everywhere, a sentiment that Calandrelli echoed in her post.
Despite the online backlash, Calandrelli remains steadfast in her mission to inspire others and focus on the positive impact of her journey. As the 100th woman in space, her achievement not only marks a significant milestone in the history of space exploration but also highlights the ongoing challenges women face in the spotlight—challenges she continues to rise above with grace and strength.