Emily Calandrelli to Be First WV Female Astronaut

Emily Calandrelli, a Morgantown native known as 'The Space Gal,' is set to become the first woman from West Virginia to travel to space. She will fly as a citizen astronaut ambassador with Blue Origin, the private space company founded by Jeff Bezos. Calandrelli, an advocate for women in STEM, is an Emmy-nominated TV host and a best-selling author with degrees from West Virginia University and MIT. She will be one of the first 100 women in space, riding the New Shepard launch vehicle. Her mission aims to inspire and represent women and children from Appalachia in science and technology fields. The launch will take place at Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas, although the exact date has not been announced yet.