An MIT engineer and TV host became the 100th woman to travel to space during a Blue Origin flight, but her historic moment was overshadowed by a horde of "small men" sexualizing her space flight video.
On November 17, Emily Calandrelli joined a group of six space tourists on Blue Origin's ninth human spaceflight mission, the Guardian reported. The trip fulfilled Calandrelli's lifelong dream as someone who has built a career advocating for science education, specifically for women and children.
Seeing our planet for the first time, a dream decades in the making.
— Emily Calandrelli (@TheSpaceGal) November 25, 2024
You're seeing so many emotions intertwined. Excitement, awe, and pride - but to be honest a little fear and confusion too. You just launched on a rocket and you're seeing something you've never seen before... pic.twitter.com/HlL85ENshC
Despite the achievement, when Calandrelli described seeing Earth from space as comparable to the joy of becoming a mother, the video of her reaction received a flood of sexist and objectifying comments online.
Blue Origin removed and replaced the original video of the mission on its social media platforms due to ongoing harassment.
Despite the negativity, Calandrelli refused to let the trolls overshadow her achievement, calling them out in an Instagram post.
"I refuse to give much time to the small men on the internet. I feel experiences in my soul. It's a trait I got from my father. We feel every emotion deeply and what a beautiful way that is to experience life. This joy is tattooed on my heart," she wrote.
"As I left the flight, the Southwest stewardess who recognized me, and I suspect could see that I had been crying, whispered as I walked off the plane 'don't let them dull your shine.' And I felt an immediate sense of camaraderie with her, with all women."
Despite the negative comments there are also several social media users who are supportive. On X, users have praised Calandrelli for the feat, calling the experience "incredible" and "amazing."
"Congrats! What would you do differently for a next launch and what recommendations would you give to anyone doing such a ride," one user asked.
"I wouldn't do anything differently. I'm so happy with my experience. It was everything I hoped for. I would pass on the recommendation that other Blue astronauts passed down - flip upside down at the window and view the earth from that perspective," Calandrelli responded.
Congrats! What would you do differently for a next launch and what recommendations would you give to anyone doing such a ride?
— Pedro Ortiz (@Drums_for_Jesus) November 25, 2024
For Calandrelli, she has chosen to focus on the positive impact of the journey rather than dwell on the hateful comments. She has received numerous words of encouragement on social media from both genders.
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