Emily Calandrelli made history on November 22 as the 100th woman to journey to space, joining six other individuals on a flight organized by Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company, Blue Origin. While her emotional reaction to the life-changing experience was widely celebrated, it was reportedly marred by inappropriate comments from trolls on social media, overshadowing her moment of awe and joy.
A moment of awe and inspiration
During the flight, Calandrelli was reportedly overcome with emotion as she gazed at Earth from space. In a video posted to social media, she described the breathtaking view: “There was so much blackness. There was so much space.” As she marveled at the sight, she exclaimed, “That’s our planet! That’s our planet!” Comparing the feeling to the joy she experienced when her children were born, Calandrelli expressed gratitude and amazement.
Calandrelli in a video posted to social media, said, as reported by The Guardian, “We got to weightlessness, I immediately turned upside down and looked at the planet and then there was so much blackness. There was so much space. I didn’t expect to see so much space, and I kept saying that’s our planet! That’s our planet! It was the same feeling I got when my kids were born, and I was like, ‘That’s my baby!’”
However, just hours after sharing the video, the 100th woman to space faced a wave of sexualized comments and inappropriate reactions from online trolls. The backlash was so overwhelming that Blue Origin had to take down the video.
Facing the trolls and finding strength
Despite the negativity, Calandrelli refused to let it overshadow her achievement. In a post on Instagram, she shared her dismay: “Instead of being on cloud nine, I’m crying in my seat staring out the window. Because of course this happened.” She also reached out to fellow women in the space community for advice on handling the cruel comments.
But Calandrelli was resolute. She wrote: “I will not apologize or feel weird about my reaction. It’s wholly mine and I love it.” She also reflected on the emotional depth of her experience, adding that feeling deeply was a trait she inherited from her father.
Calandrelli received support from those around her, including a Southwest stewardess who whispered encouragement as Calandrelli exited the plane: “Don’t let them dull your shine.”
A heartfelt return to social media
On November 25, Calandrelli shared another video, this time revisiting her emotional moment in space. Her voice cracked with emotion as she exclaimed, “That’s our planet… Oh my God, that’s space.” In the caption, she expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity, describing the moment as a dream come true: “A dream decades in the making. The only thing I can compare it to was holding my babies for the first time after they were born.”
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