Emily Candrelli

Emily Calandrelli

Space TV Host / Public Speaker / Author

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Country roads can lead you to the stars!

I’m Emily Calandrelli – you may know me as The Space Gal. I’m wildly passionate about space exploration, hoping to inspire the next generation of space and science explorers. When I was growing up in West Virginia, I was the first member of my family to go into STEM. Becoming an engineer gave me a path to job security. What I didn’t expect was that I would fall in love with space!

  • First Expectant Mom on NASA’s “Vomit Comet:” I just found out I was expecting a baby when I took a zero-g flight to do microgravity research for NASA.
  • Emmy-nominated Space Influencer: I love explaining science in an easily digestible and entertaining way on my TV shows like “Xploration Outer Space” and “Emily’s Wonder Lab.” Now, more than 3 million people on Earth follow The Space Gal socials!
  • WVU + MIT Educated: Education opens doors for profitable careers. I have engineering degrees from West Virginia University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  • Space Bound: In 2024, I was tapped to fly on an upcoming suborbital mission with Blue Origin – I can’t wait to experience space firsthand!

What Excites Me About Space and STEM:

I’m passionate about opening up space to diverse groups of people. The cadence of women going to space now in the private space age is higher than ever and soon I’ll become one of them.

Emily’s Faves in Space and STEM:

FIRST® Robotics
For a fun, exciting, and hands-on way to learn, get involved in the FIRST® community. It can help prepare you for a future in STEM. Check if your school offers these programs so you can experience robotics and technology or even join a LEGO® League.

Star Walk 2
Explore the night sky with this interactive app. If you want to find a specific planet, star, or meteor shower in real time, this GPS-based app helps you find it in your night sky.

ISS Live Now
An app that helps you spot the ISS in the sky! You can even see it during the daytime if you have clear skies. Use it to track the location of the ISS and watch a LIVE view from space looking back at Earth.

Astro Alexandra
This TikTok channel by Alexandra Doten breaks down space news in a way that everyone can understand. She makes astrophysics fun and welcoming for all!