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On November 22, 2024, Emily Calandrelli, an aerospace engineer and STEM education champion, became the 100th woman to journey to space. Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket lifted off and landed at its West Texas site. This suborbital voyage transported six civilian passengers and reached a maximum height of 106 kilometers, beyond the Kármán line, which is considered the frontier of space.
The Significance of Calandrelli's Flight
The ten-minute journey on Blue Origin's NS-28 involved around four minutes of weightlessness. Calandrelli was joined by Marc and Sharon Hagle, a couple on their second Blue Origin mission; Austin Litteral, whose participation was sponsored by Whatnot, a livestream shopping platform; J.D. Russell, a former game warden and entrepreneur; and Hank Wolfond, CEO of a Canadian investment firm. It was Blue Origin's ninth human spaceflight.
Emily Calandrelli, also known as "The Space Gal" online, has emphasized her lifetime desire to inspire young women in STEM professions. Her quest, she explained, was the culmination of years of aeronautical engineering studies and a commitment to increase female representation in science and technology. Among her personal belongings was a photomontage of the 99 women who flown before her, commemorating their efforts to clearing the path.
Calandrelli described the view from space as deeply poignant, comparing the emotional intensity to the birth of her children. The mission's logo included a person wearing pink overalls to represent her accomplishment, emphasizing her role as a STEM ambassador.
Notable Features of the Flight
Blue Origin's reusable "RSS First Step" spacecraft returned the crew safely to Earth following the booster's engine-assisted vertical landing. The launch adds to Blue Origin's efforts to increase civilian access to space. Calandrelli's feat also ranks her among the 714 people who have traveled to space, according to the Association of Space Explorers.
Calandrelli's seat was supported by numerous sponsors, allowing her to participate while also promoting STEM education. This historic journey is a big step forward for women in space exploration.
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