Kellie Gerardi Will Fly to Space Again
The researcher is preparing for her second spaceflight to continue critical studies on human physiology in microgravity.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Space
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Payload specialist Kellie Gerardi is preparing for her second spaceflight to further bioastronautics research. This mission will build on her previous work, which included the historic task of pumping breast milk in microgravity in June 2026.
Why it matters
Her ongoing research is essential for understanding human reproductive health to support a sustained human presence on the Moon and Mars. Gerardi advocates for these studies to ensure that future astronauts are physically supported during long-duration missions.
Kellie Gerardi, one of the first 100 women to reach space, conducted research just 8 weeks postpartum in 2023. She utilizes commercially available wearable pumps to measure biological responses in microgravity.
The players
Kellie Gerardi
She is a payload specialist and bioastronautics researcher for the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences.
Anna Lee Fisher
She is an American astronaut who made history as the first mother to fly to space in 1984.
The details
As a payload specialist for the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, Gerardi focuses on human physiological responses during spaceflight. Her research serves as a precursor to upcoming studies regarding menstruation in space, aiming to close knowledge gaps in aerospace medicine.
Timeline
Anna Lee Fisher became the first mother in space in 1984.
Gerardi completed her first Virgin Galactic spaceflight in 2023.
Gerardi pumped breast milk in microgravity in June 2026.
The Big Picture
This research follows the 1984 milestone of Anna Lee Fisher becoming the first mother in space. Gerardi's mission marks a shift toward specialized reproductive health data needed for deep-space colonization.
The data collected from these missions will inform the design of future life-support systems and medical protocols for human space travel. This ensures that long-term missions to the Moon or Mars are safe and inclusive for a diverse astronaut workforce.
The takeaway
Advancing reproductive health research is a vital step toward making long-duration human spaceflight a viable reality for all genders. These findings will ultimately influence the standard of care for future interplanetary explorers.
Further reading
For more on the current state of off-world exploration, read our latest Space coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Space.
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