Emily Calandrelli, an astronomer and science communicator known for her TV programs titled "Space Girl," has recently made headlines as the 100th woman astronaut. She traveled to Earth’s orbit on a flight conducted by Blue Origin, a space company owned by Jeff Bezos. This event garnered media attention and social media users not only for its scientific achievement but also for the widespread reactions it elicited online. Calandrelli, who was on this mission with five other space tourists, shared her experiences of seeing Earth from space. In a video shared on social media, she described with wonder and deep emotion how she viewed the bright blue environment of Earth from the rocket's window, equating this experience to the moment her children were born. In that video, she said, "When we reached weightlessness, I immediately turned around and looked at Earth, constantly saying, 'This is our planet!'" She then added, "My feeling was similar to when my children were born, and I was saying, 'This is my baby!'" This candid and unfiltered remark faced mixed reactions online. Some users shared supportive messages, calling Calandrelli an inspiration for women and young girls, while others, particularly men, attacked her with sexist and derogatory comments. The volume of negative remarks led Blue Origin to delete the original video from their social media accounts and release an edited version. Blue Origin has not responded to journalists' requests for comments on this matter. In response to these internet trolls, Calandrelli stated that she would not pay attention to these "little men on the internet" and that she feels her experiences deeply within her soul, asserting that she would not apologize for her emotional reaction. Calandrelli is the 100th woman to go to space. Valentina Tereshkova, a former Soviet astronaut, was the first woman to travel to space in 1963, and it took another twenty years for another woman to enter this field. Sally Ride also went to space as the first American woman in 1983. The mission Calandrelli participated in was the ninth human spaceflight of Blue Origin's rockets. This rocket, designed for space tourism, flew for a few minutes above the Kármán line, the boundary that separates Earth's atmosphere from outer space, before returning to Earth.
Sexist Reactions and Online Attacks on the World's 100th Female Astronaut
Emily Calandrelli became the 100th woman astronaut during a flight by Blue Origin, sparking both support and sexist backlash online. Her emotional reaction to seeing Earth from space resonated with many but also drew derogatory comments, leading to the removal of the original video by Blue Origin. This incident highlights ongoing gender biases in society.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Emily Calandrelli became the 100th woman astronaut during a Blue Origin flight, which led to both praise and sexist backlash online. The negative comments prompted Blue Origin to delete the original video of her emotional reaction to seeing Earth from space.
- Calandrelli's flight was Blue Origin's ninth human spaceflight.
- She compared her experience of seeing Earth from space to the birth of her children.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Emily Calandrelli's achievement as the 100th woman astronaut is a significant milestone in the history of space exploration, reflecting progress in gender representation. However, the sexist backlash she faced highlights the ongoing challenges women encounter in male-dominated fields.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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