Kellie Gerardi is an aerospace, defense and technology professional and a popular science communicator. She is a bioastronautics researcher with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS), where she has flown multiple microgravity research campaigns evaluating spacesuits and testing technologies in zero-g. In 2021, IIAS announced a contract to fly her to space as a Payload Specialist on a dedicated research flight with Virgin Galactic. Her spaceflight will mark the world's first industry-sponsored researcher to fly to space on a commercial spacecraft and Kellie will be one of the first one hundred women in history to fly to space. Kellie serves on the Defense Council for the Truman National Security Project and on the Board of Directors for The Explorers Club, whose prestigious flag she carried on a crew expedition to the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS). In addition to her work in space, Kellie leads Mission Operations for Palantir Technologies. Kellie is the author of the bestselling children's book series LUNA MUNA and the non-fiction essay collection Not Necessarily Rocket Science. She lives in Jupiter, Florida with her husband and their daughter Delta V. You can connect with Kellie on Instagram and TikTok.