Kellie Gerardi

Kellie Gerardi  is an aerospace, defense, and technology professional and a popular science communicator. She conducts bioastronautics research in microgravity with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) and in 2021 was announced as a commercial astronaut and payload specialist contracted to fly on a dedicated research flight with Virgin Galactic. Kellie is the world's first industry-sponsored researcher contracted to fly on a commercial spacecraft. Kellie serves...See more

Kellie Gerardi  is an aerospace, defense, and technology professional and a popular science communicator. She conducts bioastronautics research in microgravity with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) and in 2021 was announced as a commercial astronaut and payload specialist contracted to fly on a dedicated research flight with Virgin Galactic. Kellie is the world's first industry-sponsored researcher contracted to fly on a commercial spacecraft. Kellie serves on the Defense Council for the Truman National Security Project and on the Board of Directors for The Explorers Club, whose esteemed flag she carried during a crew rotation at the Mars Desert Research Station. Kellie also holds a leadership role in global Mission Operations at Palantir Technologies. She is the author of  Not Necessarily Rocket Science and the children's picture book series Luna Muna . Kellie lives in Jupiter, Florida with her husband Steven and their daughter Delta V. See less