Kellie Gerardi

Kellie Gerardi is a multi-mission research astronaut who became the 90th woman in history to fly to space and one of the world’s first payload specialists to fly on a commercial spacecraft. As a mother, researcher, author, and daily source of inspiration to millions of followers on social media, USA Today calls her “a woman of many successful missions” and named her one of their 2025 Women of the Year.

Gerardi served as a payload specialist on the IIAS-01 / Galactic 05 science mission with Virgin Galactic in 2023, during which she conducted biomedical and thermodynamic fluid research in space on behalf of the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, where she serves as the Director of Human Spaceflight and a microgravity instructor and Test Flight Director. Gerardi will lead the IIAS-02 research mission in 2026, and her second spaceflight will advance the scientific knowledge gained from IIAS-01 and introduce novel biomedical research alongside her international IIAS crewmates. Here on Earth, Gerardi has tested and matured technologies across more than 150 parabolas in microgravity research flight campaigns, including with MIT, the National Research Council of Canada, and the Canadian Space Agency.

Gerardi has been profiled in publications ranging from Glamour to Forbes and has appeared on shows including "The Jennifer Hudson Show," "The Talk," and "CBS Mornings." Her children’s book series "Luna Muna" has been read from both the International Space Station and the White House. Known online for embracing her multitudes and praised for her refreshing transparency documenting personal struggles through IVF and pregnancy loss, Gerardi paints a powerful portrait of modern motherhood and is the recipient of a 2025 "People's Voice" Webby Award. Gerardi lives in Jupiter, Florida with her husband and their daughter Delta V.