The Space Gal is Going to Space

by Eileen Elizabeth Espinoza

The NS-28 mission patch, featuring pink flourishes for Emily Calandrelli.

This year, Emily Calandrelli has been everywhere—from the Democratic National Convention to New York Fashion Week. This Friday she’ll embark on her most exciting journey yet: a trip to space.

Calandrelli, known as "The Space Gal," will be the 100th woman in space as she joins Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-28 suborbital flight. Scheduled to launch on Friday, November 22, from Launch Site One in West Texas, this mission will mark the ninth human flight for the New Shepard program and the 28th flight in its history. To date, Blue Origin has successfully flown 43 people above the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space.

A Trailblazing Career

An MIT-educated engineer and Emmy-nominated science communicator, Calandrelli has built a career inspiring curiosity about the universe. She hosts and co-executive produces Emily’s Wonder Lab on Netflix and has served as a correspondent on Bill Nye Saves the World. She also created and hosted FOX’s Xploration Outer Space.

As an author, Calandrelli encourages young readers to explore science through books like Reach for the Stars, Stay Curious and Keep Exploring, and her science-focused chapter book series, The Ada Lace Adventures. Notably, the third book in the Ada Lace series was sent to the International Space Station.

Calandrelli made history with Xploration Outer Space, becoming the first American woman to solely host a nationally broadcast science series. Beyond her media work, she has championed women’s rights, co-authoring legislation to improve the TSA’s treatment of breastfeeding mothers and leading campaigns to enhance parental leave policies in the aerospace industry.

Preparing for Liftoff

I recently had the privilege of speaking with Calandrelli about her upcoming mission. As fellow West Virginians—she’s from Morgantown, I’m from Shepherdstown—we bonded over our shared Appalachian roots. “If space flight is a pageant, West Virginia is my platform,” she joked, underscoring her pride in representing her home state.

Her enthusiasm was palpable as she spoke about her journey on Blue Origin’s New Shepard, a suborbital vehicle named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space.

When asked how she plans to spend her 12-minute flight, Calandrelli said her priority is to stay in the moment.

“I’ll be looking out the window, watching the curvature of the Earth. Looking back at Earth and knowing that everyone you have ever loved or known is there. Every farmer, every poet, looking up to the stars…”

While her flight will be brief, it won’t just be about the view. She will conduct experiments with Fast Plants as part of a project to further Space Force research and plans to distribute 100,000 “space seeds” to her followers post-flight.

A Meaningful Journey

Calandrelli has curated 10 personal items to bring with her, each rich with symbolism, including:

  • A copy of her book, Reach for the Stars: Representing her dedication to inspiring future generations in STEM.

  • Artwork by Chilu: Featuring an astronaut modeled after her daughter, this piece highlights childhood dreams and perseverance.

  • Her father’s West Virginia University class ring: A tribute to her father and her West Virginia heritage.

  • A flash drive containing dreams from her followers: Collected from her audience, this initiative raised over $9,700 for children’s charities.

  • Star charms by the Starfish Project: Made by women overcoming exploitation, these charms will be gifted to young girls who dream of the stars.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Calandrelli’s mission extends beyond the personal; I am struck by her selfless generosity in sharing her experience of spaceflight with her followers. She hopes to uplift the communities she connects with and bring the wonder of space exploration to children and families who follow her work.

Her daughter’s perception of astronauts encapsulates the impact Calandrelli strives to have.

“Recently, my daughter brought me a coloring book page of an astronaut. The silhouette was gender-neutral. She said, ‘Mommy, it’s you!’ To her, an astronaut is a woman. Someday, I’ll have to tell her that boys can be astronauts, too.”

A Disney-Inspired Dream

When asked about her favorite space-themed media, Calandrelli delighted me with a whimsical answer.

“I’m a Disney gal. To wish upon a star — to dare to dream — is the story that draws me to space.”

Though her time in space will be short, Calandrelli’s journey promises to inspire countless gals who also wish to take their place among the stars someday.

You can watch a livestream of her flight on Friday, November 22, at Blue Origin’s official site.

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