Emily Calandrelli became the 100th woman in space this week but her achievement has been overshadowed by a wave of misogynistic comments directed at her online.
Calandrelli travelled to space aboard a Blue Origin spacecraft as part of a group of six people, describing it as a dream “decades in the making”.
The aerospace engineer and Emmy-nominated television host said it had been a “perfect, wonderful” experience but then a number of sexualised comments on a video showing her candid reaction to viewing Earth from space started rolling in.
In the video posted by Blue Origin, Calandrelli can be seen looking out the window at Earth and saying, “Oh my God, this is space”.
Within 24 hours, a number of offensive and misogynstic comments – which included “Would you consider yourself the hottest woman to ever go to space? Any other contenders?” and “why [is] she moaning I cannot unhear it” – led to the video being taken down from Blue Origin’s social media accounts.
“This all happened as I was flying home after experiencing the most perfect, wonderful dream-achieving experience of my life,” Calandrelli wrote in a post on Instagram.
“And instead of being on cloud nine, I’m crying in my seat staring out the window. Because of course this happened. Of course I should have expected this.”
Calandrelli went on to say she refuses to be embarrassed for her wonderment and joy.
“I love that I am someone who experiences her whole soul. What a beautiful way to experience life,” she said.
“I refuse to give much time to small men on the internet.
“I will not apologise or feel weird about my reaction. It’s wholly mine and I love it.”
Hundreds of people have shared their support of Calandrelli on her personal Instagram page, with many calling her a role model for women and girls.
Calandrelli has now reposted the original video, writing about how she felt to view Earth from space.
“The only thing I can compare it to was holding my babies for the first time after they were born. Like knowing someone for a long time, loving someone for a while, but seeing them with your own eyes for the very first time,” she said.
“It hit me in the soul and is tattooed on my heart forever. How lucky I am to be one of 100 women to experience this view. I don’t take it for granted and I plan to share this awe with as many as I can.”
Feature image: Emily Calandrelli. Credit: Blue Origin.