By Damian Phillips, The Exponent Telegram
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Morgantown native Emily Calandrelli is an engineer, MIT graduate, Emmy-nominated television host and New York Times best-selling author. And she will soon become the first West Virginia woman to fly to space.
Although the exact date is confidential, Calandrelli announced Tuesday that she will soon be flying to space on Blue Origin’s fully autonomous reusable launch vehicle called New Shepard.
Calandrelli will travel to West Texas a week prior to the launch to prepare for G-force simulations and other safety precautions. But that is the extent of the training she will receive, she said.
From start to finish, the New Shepard’s suborbital flight will last approximately 12 minutes.
After the booster breaks off from the capsule, and is guided back to the launch pad autonomously, the capsule will continue to space and stay there a short while before also falling back to earth. Upon reentry, parachutes will deploy to slow the capsule down to speeds safe for landing.
Calandrelli’s flight will be the eighth mission flown by the New Shepard. Her journey to the stars will place her among the first 100 or so women in space.
