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Kellie Gerardi is a multi-mission research astronaut, payload specialist, and dynamic science communicator who brings audiences inside the future of human spaceflight with energy, authenticity, and real-world experience. As the 90th woman in history to travel to space and a leader in commercial research missions with Virgin Galactic, she has conducted groundbreaking microgravity experiments while helping expand access to space. Gerardi is also a bestselling children’s author, STEM advocate, and influential voice reaching millions, recognized as a 2025 Woman of the Year by USA Today.
An accomplished science communicator and advocate for STEM, Gerardi also shares the personal journey behind her career, offering an honest perspective on ambition, resilience and what it means to pursue a place at the frontier of exploration.
Come hear from one of the leading voices shaping the future of commercial human spaceflight and discover how the science we conduct in space can help us understand ourselves better on Earth.
Admission includes a pre-event reception with light bites and refreshments. Cash bar available.
Kellie Gerardi is a multi-mission research astronaut and scientist who became the 90th woman in history to fly to space.
Kellie served as a payload specialist on the IIAS-01 / Galactic 05 dedicated science mission with Virgin Galactic in 2023, conducting biomedical and thermodynamic fluid research in space on behalf of the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS). She is scheduled to lead the upcoming IIAS-02 research mission, conducting new biomedical and women’s health research alongside an international crew.
On Earth, Kellie has tested and matured spaceflight technologies across hundreds of parabolas in microgravity research flight campaigns, including research collaborations with MIT, the National Research Council of Canada, and the Canadian Space Agency. She currently serves as Director of Human Spaceflight at IIAS, where she is also a microgravity instructor. She holds a Master of Science and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science and Technology for her contributions to microgravity research.
Beyond her research career, Kellie’s work spans education, media, and culture. She has been named a TIME100 Creator and a USA Today Woman of the Year, with USA Today calling her “a woman of many successful missions.” In 2026, Mattel created a Barbie doll in her likeness, naming her an official Barbie Role Model and a member of the first-ever Barbie Dream Team. She is also the recipient of a People’s Voice Webby Award.
Kellie has built a global audience of millions by bringing people inside the world of human spaceflight and making science and exploration accessible to audiences of all ages. She is the author of the children’s book series Luna Muna, which has been read from both the International Space Station and the White House. Her work also extends into family entertainment, including voicing an animated version of herself in Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: Agent P Under C. She also serves as Godmother of Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas. Kellie lives in Jupiter, Florida, with her husband and their two daughters.
Ignite your curiosity and grow your passion for space and science at our Thought Leader Series!
This speaker series highlights leading STEM figures whose work advances the public understanding of science and exploration. Each program is preceded by a reception with light bites, offering an opportunity for connection with other guests. An engaging discussion with the speaker concludes each event, navigating the intersection of discovery and storytelling.
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