Who is Kellie Gerardi? Born on February 16, 1989, in Jupiter, Florida, Kellie Gerardi is an aerospace, defense, and technology professional and a popular science communicator. Gerardi is a citizen-scientist and conducts bioastronautics research and spacesuit evaluation in microgravity with the IIAS. Gerardi is currently working as a Director of The Explorers Club and serves on the Defense Council for the Truman National Security Project.
She has authored 'Not Necessarily Rocket Science: A Beginner's Guide To Life in the Space Age' and a children's picture book series titled, 'Luna Muna'. Gerardi has a huge following on Instagram and TikTok.
Gerardi has flown on multiple previous parabolic research flights, which are high-altitude aircraft flights that affect the reduced gravity environment of space. This will be her first trip to space proper, however, and that transition epitomizes the advantages Virgin Galactic hopes to be able to offer to researchers who previously conducted their work in simulated zero-G conditions.