An astronaut has spoken out against online criticism after a video of her space journey had to be removed.
Blue Origin, owned by Jeff Bezos, made history by sending American engineer Emily Calandrelli into space. She became the 100th woman to achieve this milestone.
Calandrelli was one of the six ‘space tourists’ participating in Blue Origin’s ninth human test flight on the New Shepherd spacecraft.
Unfortunately, the company had to take down a social media post featuring a video of the MIT engineer due to inappropriate comments.
Although many people congratulated Calandrelli, it wasn’t long before trolls emerged, making ‘sexualized’ comments and cracking jokes about women in space.
In the video, Calandrelli likened the experience to motherhood, saying: “I didn’t expect to see so much space, and I kept saying that’s our planet! That’s our planet! It was the same feeling I got when my kids were born, and I was like, ‘That’s my baby!’”
Calandrelli acknowledged that the negative comments affected her, as she spent her flight home in tears, exchanging messages with her ‘space sisters’. A stewardess, who recognized her, offered encouragement by saying, ‘don’t let them dull your shine’.
In response to the criticism, Calandrelli shared a message of defiance.
She stated: “I refuse to give much time to the small men on the internet. I feel experiences in my soul. It’s a trait I got from my father. We feel every emotion deeply and what a beautiful way that is to experience life. This joy is tattooed on my heart.”
Other Instagram posts celebrating the space journey garnered significant support for Calandrelli.
One commenter said: “So incredible. I love the perspective of a mom up there looking with such pride and love at our planet. Beautiful.”
Another shared: “Her talking about this moment had me in tears. Now seeing it with this photo, I’m sobbing.”
A third commented: “Emily, I am so sorry to see your post regarding your video of your reaction having to be taken down because of the stupid men commenting. I shared it earlier today saying I would have had the exact reaction! I guarantee you inspired more people, especially women out there, than you can imagine.”
One simply added: “What an inspiration.”