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.