Astronaut Emily Calandrelli made history as the 100th woman to journey into space during Blue Origin's NS-28 mission. The launch took place aboard the New Shepard rocket, marking Blue Origin's ninth human spaceflight aimed at promoting space tourism.
Calandrelli, a well-known MIT engineer and TV host, expressed her emotional response to the experience, stating, "Oh my God, this is space," while gazing out at Earth. Her achievement has inspired many, particularly women and young girls, as social media users celebrated her milestone.
Despite facing online harassment following the mission, Calandrelli emphasized the significance of her experience, comparing the view of Earth from space to the moment of motherhood. She remarked, "That's our planet!" and shared her emotional journey with her followers.
The NS-28 mission also included five other space tourists: Sharon Hagle, Marc Hagle, Austin Litteral, James (J.D.) Russell, and Henry (Hank) Wolfond. The flight reached above the Kármán line, the recognized boundary of space, before safely returning to Blue Origin's launch site in West Texas.
Calandrelli's flight adds to the legacy of women in space, following Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, who was the first woman in space in 1963, and Sally K. Ride, the first American woman in space in 1983. Calandrelli's mission serves as a reminder of the ongoing advancements in space exploration and the importance of representation in this field.