For Emily Calandrelli, known to many as “The Space Gal,” the dream of spaceflight began over 20 years ago. Last year, that dream became a reality.
As the 100th woman to travel to space, Calandrelli isn’t just celebrating personal achievement — she’s using her journey to inspire others, uplift underrepresented communities and push the boundaries of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) accessibility.
“Going to space had been something that I had hoped to do … ever since I started studying aerospace engineering,” Calandrelli told Space.com. Flying on Blue Origin’s NS-28 suborbital flight “was everything I hoped it would be — and so much more.”
NS-28, which launched on Nov. 22, 2024, also served as a platform to spotlight issues close to Calandrelli’s heart, particularly those affecting her home state of West Virginia. A flash drive she carried into space became a powerful symbol: a zero-gravity indicator filled with nearly 10,000 dreams submitted by followers across the country. With an optional donation for each submission, Calandrelli turned her flight into a fundraiser, carrying people’s wishes to the stars while raising over $30,000 for West Virginia’s foster care system.
“ I recognize that going into space is something that is an incredibly privileged thing to do,” Calandrelli said, noting that fewer than 700 people have flown to the final frontier. “I always told myself that if I were to have that chance, I would try to use it to uplift others. In West Virginia, kids are entering the foster system at four times the rate of any other state — it’s a system that is really pressed for resources, and so I thought, ‘How can I help raise money for that?'”
Calandrelli adopted the handle “@TheSpaceGal” on social media years before going to space. With her NS-28 flight, she noted, she finally lived up to her nickname. Even more rewarding was becoming the 100th woman in space, which is something she embraces with deep gratitude.
“For me, that number was really meaningful. I had a personal goal of trying to be in the first 100 … but to actually be the 100th felt like a bookend to a milestone that was hard fought and hard won — particularly by the women who came before me when it wasn’t as popular or accepted,” she said. “I feel a lot of gratitude because it was certainly a lot easier for me to achieve this dream than the women who were much earlier in the count.”
Calandrelli points to commercial spaceflight as a key driver in increasing diversity within the industry, specifically the representation of women and minorities in space exploration. After all, she noted, about 65 of the first 100 women who have flown in space have done so within the last five years, as private spaceflight has really started to ramp up.
“I’m hopeful that numbers 101 through 1,000 will come about 10 to 20 times faster,” she said.
But spaceflight is just one aspect of Calandrelli’s broader mission: making science more accessible and exciting to young people and families, especially those without a STEM background. After her Netflix show “Emily’s Wonder Lab” came to an end, she launched “Emily’s Science Lab” on YouTube, where she continues to share experiments and educational content, making science feel fun and easy for families.
“‘Emily’s Wonder Lab’ was my most successful and visible project — it really helped launch my career in children’s education. After that got canceled, I really had to take control of my career, because I didn’t want to rely on Netflix to continue having the impact that that show was having,” she said. “So … I created my own show. Launching that, taking care of that, fostering that community on YouTube has been my biggest pet project right now.”
With more than four million followers across social media platforms and projects in books, television and even a potential documentary about NS-28, Calandrelli is uniquely positioned to inspire the next generation of scientists.
“My goal is to be your scientific BFF. I’m trying to build the tools necessary for families to easily instill science confidence in their kids,” Calandrelli said. “I grew up in a family that wasn’t in STEM, so I know how intimidating it can be.”
With the world becoming more scientifically and technologically advanced, Calandrelli believes building “science confidence” in kids is one of the most valuable gifts parents can give. Her advice for parents and educators is to start with relatable role models and simple, hands-on experiments.
“I always recommend at-home science experiments … with accessible materials like Arm & Hammer baking soda, vinegar and food coloring — stuff you probably already have in your kitchen,” she said. “It’s a tangible, tactile way for kids to feel like they are a scientist, [and] it helps them see themselves in these roles and careers as they get older.”
It’s also important to approach science from all angles, Calandrelli. Kids learn in different ways, she explained, so a combination of educational videos, books and hands-on experiments can help parents identify what resonates best with their child and use that to make them feel confident in STEM.
With her distinct blend of scientific expertise, educational passion, and now, astronaut experience, Calandrelli continues to redefine what it means to be a space explorer — not just someone who leaves Earth, but someone who brings others along for the journey.
