If you had children at home during the great “how long can we keep learning long-distance” experiment of 2020, you’re likely very familiar with Emily Calandrelli. Thanks to her tireless advocacy for STEM representation, Calandrelli recently participated in Blue Origin’s NS-28 mission, becoming the 100th woman in space. It was an inspiring moment that should have been celebrated universally—until, predictably, the trolls showed up.
Within moments of the video of Calandrelli’s beautiful reaction to seeing Earth from space being shared, the comments started rolling in, reducing the Space Gal to nothing more than a sexual object. Apparently, a woman can’t even leave the freaking planet without men trying to ruin it.
Breaking barriers and serving as a powerful role model for women? That’s kind of Calandrelli’s thing. Her career skyrocketed with the Netflix series Emily’s Wonder Lab, a show she filmed while visibly pregnant with her oldest child—a daughter. Having a woman host a kids’ science show was amazing enough, but seeing her do so while pregnant was a watershed moment for mothers watching the program with their daughters. The long-standing stereotype in the sciences that women can’t balance notable careers with motherhood—not as “good” mothers anyway—was on full display, ready to be smashed. Calandrelli isn’t shy about sharing snippets of her parenting life with the world, showing her deep love for her children and how she actively juggles both roles. When mothers tell their little girls, “Yes, you can be anything,” having someone like Calandrelli as a living example makes that message resonate. She inspires girls to keep reaching for the stars while proving you can have a stellar career and be an amazing mom.
While Netflix declined to renew her show for a second season, Calandrelli didn’t let that slow her down. She shifted gears to continue advocating for STEM education and gender equity in science. From wowing audiences at Google and Pixar to thrilling classrooms full of eager faces in K-12 schools, she has kept the momentum alive. Her advocacy eventually led her to Blue Origin, culminating in her becoming the 100th woman to reach space.
This milestone took far too long to achieve. Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, made history 60 years ago in 1963. Yet it’s taken six decades to finally see the 100th woman make it to space. Calandrelli used her journey to inspire countless women and girls across the country, particularly in her home state of West Virginia. Watching her take in the awe-inspiring view of Earth from space was a powerful moment.
And then.
Because women in science and tech can never have anything without the unwashed masses chiming in, the trolls arrived. For every step forward women make in science, sexism is always lurking in the shadows, ready to drag us back. The video of Calandrelli’s emotional moment in space became a battleground for vile, objectifying comments, forcing Blue Origin to take it down entirely. Saddened but unsurprised, Calandrelli shed some tears but ultimately chose to rise above. As a female flight attendant reminded her: “Don’t let them dull your shine.”
And shine she did. Calandrelli responded to the backlash with grace, sharing the video on her own channels—because while trolls can try to steal the attention, they can’t take the achievement. That belongs to her. Every time a douchebag leaves a shitty comment, it’s proof they’d rather be negative on the internet than chase their dreams.
Being the 100th woman in space is about more than Emily’s personal triumph. It’s about women making progress in public and claiming their recognition. When a woman accomplishes something extraordinary, let’s cheer loud enough to drown out the underachievers criticizing her from the couch. Between our applause and the sheer distance between the stars and the basement, we can confidently say, “I can’t hear you from here.”
