Emily Calandrelli

Emily Dawn Calandrelliis an Americanscience communicator, engineer, author, andtelevision presenter. She is the host and an executive producer ofXploration Outer Spaceand previouslyEmily's Wonder Lab.
Emily Calandrelli grew up inMorgantown, West Virginiaand graduated fromMorgantown High School.As an undergraduate, she attendedWest Virginia University.She became aTruman Scholarwhich led to her working for one summer inWashington, D.C.for her US RepresentativeAlan Mollohan.In 2009, she was named to theUSA Todayall-academic team, won theBarry M. Goldwater Scholarship, and was voted Ms. Mountaineer.She later graduated with aB.S.inmechanical&aerospace engineeringin 2010.
Subsequently, Calandrelli attended theMassachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT) where she obtained anM.S.inaeronautics&astronauticsas well anM.S.intechnology & policyin 2013.  In 2011, Calandrelli was awarded the René Miller Prize in Systems Engineering.As a HarvardNASATournament Lab visiting scholar, she assisted organizations in usingcrowdsourcingto solve technical challenges.
As a college student, Calandrelli worked at NASA as an intern. Her work at NASA included designing the simulation for thePhoenix Mars Lander's soil testing experiment, research on the use oflasersto reduce harmful emissions from jet engines, and developing chemical detection sensors.
Calandrelli is a professional speaker and presents on the topics of space exploration, scientific literacy, and gender equality in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). She is aTEDxspeakerand a contributing writer atTechCrunch.Additionally, Calandrelli is aBrooke Owens FellowshipMentor.
Calandrelli started a career in science communicationwhen she became a host ofXploration Outer SpaceinFox'sXploration Stationeducational block in 2014.In April 2017, she made several appearances onNetflixepisodes ofBill Nye Saves the World.On August 25, 2020, Calandrelli's educationalNetflixseries titledEmily's Wonder Labdebuted.Calandrelli filmed the series while 9 months pregnant.
Calandrelli is known as "The Space Gal" online.She has given presentations at Google, Pixar, MIT, Texas Instruments, and K-12 schools and universities across the United States.She was invited by theWhite Houseto perform educational science experiments at theEaster Egg Rollin 2023 and 2024.
She has written theAda Laceseries of chapter books to introduce youth to science and technologyand the picture bookReach for the Stars(2022), illustrated by Honee Jang.She also authored two books of science experiments designed for children.
She is a paid influencer for the propane industry, according toPropane Education and Research Council(PERC) documents.
In July 2024, Calandrelli announced that she will be a passenger on aNew Shepardflight to space.On November 22, 2024, Calendrelli successfully launched into space as a member ofBlue Origin's NS-28 mission, the company's ninth space tourism flight. She became the 100thwoman in space, and the 10th woman to fly on a suborbital spaceflight above theKármán line.
In April 2017, Calandrelli was nominated for an Outstanding Host in a Lifestyle/Children's/Travel or Family Viewing Programdaytime Emmy Awardfor her work onXploration Station.
In November 2023, Calandrelli received an honorary doctorate from the engineering department ofMcMaster University.
Calandrelli uses her social media platforms and public speaking engagements to advocate forscientific literacy, the benefits ofspace exploration, andSTEMcareers, particularly for girls andwomen in STEM.She has advocated for parental leave in the aerospace industry.
In 2022, Calendrelli shared her experience of being forced to check breastfeeding supplies at an airport security checkpoint, despite these supplies being permitted by TSA guidelines. She reached out toRep. Katie Porter, who had introduced legislation to improve handling of breastmilk and breastfeeding supplies.
In January 2011, Calandrelli became a licensedamateur radiooperator under the call sign KD8PKR.
During her internship at NASA, she met another aerospace engineer, Tommy Franklin. They married and had two children.
Text by Calandrelli with Tamson Weston, illustrated by Renée Kurilla