Latest news with #KellieGerardi
New Paper
09-05-2025
- Science
- New Paper
Singapore spaceport: Did you know the nation is ideal for space travel?
Could there be a spaceport in Singapore some day, launching both satellites and humans into space? In late 2024, an executive at space-tourism company Virgin Galactic, Mr Mike Moses, told The Straits Times it could envision building spaceports in locations such as Singapore. A similar idea was floated as far back as 2006, when a bold plan to build a US$115 million "Spaceport Singapore" near Changi Airport was announced by a consortium of investors and an American space-tourism firm. At the time, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore even said it had begun formulating regulations for commercial spaceflight. That plan never materialised, however. When contacted recently, a spokesperson for Singapore's Office for Space Technology & Industry (OSTIn) said there are currently no near-term plans for a spaceport. But she added: "We believe our space sector has a solid foundation for multiple space-related opportunities." Industry players and analysts agree, noting that a spaceport here could leverage Singapore's transport-hub status and proximity to the Equator - with the latter also offering fuel-saving advantages for certain launches. In 2023, the Center for Space Policy and Strategy - a think-tank within The Aerospace Corporation, a non-profit funded by the United States government to support its space programmes - published a paper arguing that Singapore has "all the makings of a serious space nation". It is not the only one in the region with spacefaring ambitions. Indonesia is keen to have its own spaceport, while Thailand and South Korea have partnered to study the feasibility of building a Thai one. But the paper highlighted Singapore's wealth, well-educated workforce, advanced manufacturing, equatorial location, and status as a maritime and aviation hub. These are "characteristics that suggest it could play a more prominent role in the domain in the years ahead". Crew member and scientist Kellie Gerardi enjoying a few minutes of weightlessness on a Virgin Galactic flight. PHOTO: VIRGIN GALACTIC Mr Richard Lamb, systems director at The Aerospace Corporation and an expert on spaceports, tells ST it would be reasonable for Singapore to consider operating one. "It's a timely question because we're on the verge of seeing humanity start to travel in space far more frequently. "Space tourism represents a component of that, but we can also look forward to point-to-point space transportation," he says, referring to the possibility of using suborbital space flights to travel from one point on Earth to another. And Singapore's location, demographics and economy are all "good arguments for entering the spaceport conversation". That sentiment is echoed by Mr Simon Gwozdz, founder of Equatorial Space, a Singapore-headquartered start-up developing rockets and space-launch services. "Space logistics are a natural extension of the other types of logistics Singapore has already mastered, including maritime and aviation," he says. A 2020 photo of Mr Simon Gwozdz inspecting a prototype rocket in Malaysia. He is the founder and chief executive of Equatorial Space, a Singapore-based start-up developing rockets and space launch services. PHOTO: EQUATORIAL SPACE Too small for a spaceport? But in land-scarce Singapore, the first question that comes to mind with any large infrastructure project is whether there is enough room. Says Ms Lynette Tan, chief executive of Space Faculty, a Singapore-based organisation developing talent for the space industry through education: "The current requirements for a spaceport do involve significant land use, which Singapore may not be able to provide." This may not be a deal-breaker, though. "That's the beauty of horizontal space launch missions like Virgin Galactic's and point-to-point space transportation," Mr Lamb says. In these launches, the initial phase sees an aircraft take off horizontally from a runway, similar to a conventional plane. Then, once it is airborne, a rocket is fired to carry the payload into space. "There are a number of companies around the world trying to build the next space planes. All of that is horizontal, so you can operate adjacent to or as part of an airport because the take-off and landing are no different," says Mr Lamb. While launches near an airport such as Changi would require careful planning, horizontal space launches, even in populated areas, are probably going to be a very exciting sector in the future, he predicts. "And I think Singapore is as reasonable a location as any." Many space flights are already launched close to big cities, Mr Gwozdz points out. "I don't think people realise just how close many launch sites are to popular areas. "In Florida, many launch facilities are within a few kilometres of Port Canaveral, a tourist destination. And you can go there and view some launches from fairly up close. "For testing and R&D, there's always the possibility of something going wrong, so you do want to give yourself some additional safety buffer," he adds. "However, if you already have an operational and well-validated system, the space constraints can be reduced." Mr Gwozdz also raises the possibility of launching spacecraft from the seas around Singapore - by using a modified barge as a platform, for instance. "What we really have going for us is the South China Sea. There is a massive area there that is reserved mostly for military exercises and comes under the Singapore Flight Information Region (airspace) - and it's larger than the airspace SpaceX has for launches in Florida." Equatorial advantage Singapore's location near the Equator, where the Earth rotates fastest, means rockets launched eastwards on some missions get a boost. PHOTO: VIRGIN GALACTIC Singapore's low latitude - just over one degree north - is a plus too. The Earth rotates fastest at the Equator, where it spins eastwards at 1,670kmh. This creates a slingshot effect that gives rockets launched eastwards from here a free boost, reducing fuel needs or increasing payload capacity. However, Mr Lamb notes that this benefits only some missions, such as those launching spacecraft into geostationary orbits circling the Earth directly above the Equator. "And the space tourism or point-to-point space transportation market will probably be driven less by orbitology and more by the commercial demand signals," he says. Concerns about inclement tropical weather - think monsoon season, or Singapore's high rate of lightning strikes - are also overblown, Mr Gwozdz believes. "Many locations used as launch sites, such as French Guiana and Florida, have weather very similar to Singapore's. So it's just something you have to deal with." Flourishing space industry Another advantage is that Singapore already has a nascent but flourishing space industry, largely focused on satellites. According to OSTIn, there are more than 70 companies and 2,000 professionals and researchers here working on everything from satellite design and manufacturing to data processing. Many of them would love to see a spaceport on these shores. Mr Lim Wee Seng, executive director of Nanyang Technological University's Satellite Research Centre, says: "Singapore could be a good place to build a spaceport, and one part could be for space tourism and the other part for satellites." He thinks it could also make sense to operate this as a regional network of launch sites. "It may or may not be in one central location, and we could even launch in our neighbouring countries. "It would be more ambitious if all of South-east Asia worked together, with different ports in different places." If Singapore does construct a spaceport, regional relationships will be more important than ever - and could be a hurdle. "Rockets can appear kind of scary, including to the neighbours," says Mr Gwozdz. So, if a launch involves another country's airspace, "the biggest challenge we'll have to overcome is operational cooperation with our neighbours". But if there is enough will, there's definitely going to be a way, he adds. "And we've got a lot of the building blocks already in place."
Straits Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Singapore spaceport: Did you know the nation is ideal for space travel?
Spaceport America in New Mexico. Experts say spaceport development and launches are possible even in land-scarce Singapore, experts say. PHOTO: VIRGIN GALACTIC Singapore spaceport: Did you know the nation is ideal for space travel? Could there be a spaceport in Singapore some day, launching both satellites and humans into space? In late 2024, an executive at space-tourism company Virgin Galactic, Mr Mike Moses, told The Straits Times it could envision building spaceports in locations such as Singapore. A similar idea was floated as far back as 2006, when a bold plan to build a US$115 million 'Spaceport Singapore' near Changi Airport was announced by a consortium of investors and an American space-tourism firm. At the time, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore even said it had begun formulating regulations for commercial spaceflight. That plan never materialised, however. When contacted recently, a spokesperson for Singapore's Office for Space Technology & Industry (OSTIn) said there are currently no near-term plans for a spaceport. But she added: 'We believe our space sector has a solid foundation for multiple space-related opportunities.' Industry players and analysts agree, noting that a spaceport here could leverage Singapore's transport-hub status and proximity to the Equato r – with the latter also offering fuel-saving advantages for certain launches. In 2023, the Center for Space Policy and Strategy – a think-tank within The Aerospace Corporation, a non-profit funded by the United States government to support its space programmes – published a paper arguing that Singapore has 'all the makings of a serious space nation'. It is not the only one in the region with spacefaring ambitions. Indonesia is keen to have its own spaceport, while Thailand and South Korea have partnered to study the feasibility of building a Thai one. But the paper highlighted Singapore's wealth, well-educated workforce, advanced manufacturing, equatorial location, and status as a maritime and aviation hub. These are 'characteristics that suggest it could play a more prominent role in the domain in the years ahead'. Crew member and scientist Kellie Gerardi enjoying a few minutes of weightlessness on a Virgin Galactic flight. PHOTO: VIRGIN GALACTIC Mr Richard Lamb, systems director at The Aerospace Corporation and an expert on spaceports, tells ST it would be reasonable for Singapore to consider operating one. 'It's a timely question because we're on the verge of seeing humanity start to travel in space far more frequently. 'Space tourism represents a component of that, but we can also look forward to point-to-point space transportation,' he says, referring to the possibility of using suborbital space flights to travel from one point on Earth to another. And Singapore's location, demographics and economy are all 'good arguments for entering the spaceport conversation'. That sentiment is echoed by Mr Simon Gwozdz, founder of Equatorial Space, a Singapore-headquartered start-up developing rockets and space-launch services. 'Space logistics are a natural extension of the other types of logistics Singapore has already mastered, including maritime and aviation,' he says. A 2020 photo of Mr Simon Gwozdz inspecting a prototype rocket in Malaysia. He is the founder and chief executive of Equatorial Space, a Singapore-based start-up developing rockets and space launch services. PHOTO: EQUATORIAL SPACE Too small for a spaceport? But in land-scarce Singapore, the first question that comes to mind with any large infrastructure project is whether there is enough room. Says Ms Lynette Tan, chief executive of Space Faculty, a Singapore-based organisation developing talent for the space industry through education: 'The current requirements for a spaceport do involve significant land use, which Singapore may not be able to provide.' This may not be a deal-breaker, though. 'That's the beauty of horizontal space launch missions like Virgin Galactic's and point-to-point space transportation,' Mr Lamb says. In these launches, the initial phase sees an aircraft take off horizontally from a runway, similar to a conventional plane. Then, once it is airborne, a rocket is fired to carry the payload into space. 'There are a number of companies around the world trying to build the next space planes. A ll of that is horizontal, so you can operate adjacent to or as part of an airport because the take-off and landing ar e no different,' says Mr Lamb. While launches near an airport such as Changi would require careful planning, horizontal space launches, even in populated areas, are probably going to be a very exciting sector in the future, he predicts. 'And I think Singapore is as reasonable a location as any.' Many space flights are already launched close to big cities, Mr Gwozdz points out. 'I don't think people realise just how close many launch sites are to popular areas. 'In Florida, many launch facilities are within a few kilometres of Port Canaveral, a tourist destination. And you can go there and view some launches from fairly up close. 'For testing and R&D, there's always the possibility of something going wrong, so you do want to give yourself some additional safety buffer,' he adds. 'However, if you already have an operational and well-validated system, the space constraints can be reduced.' Mr Gwozdz also raises the possibility of launching spacecraft from the seas around Singapore – by using a modified barge as a platform, for instance. 'What we really have going for us is the South China Sea. There is a massive area there that is reserved mostly for military exercises and comes under the Singapore Flight Information Region (airspace) – and it's larger than the airspace SpaceX has for launches in Florida.' Equatorial advantage Singapore's location near the Equator, where the Earth rotates fastest, means rockets launched eastwards on some missions get a boost. PHOTO: VIRGIN GALACTIC Singapore's low latitude – just over one degree north – is a plus too. The Earth rotates fastest at the Equator, where it spins eastwards at 1,670kmh. This creates a slingshot effect that gives rockets launched eastwards from here a free boost, reducing fuel needs or increasing payload capacity. However, Mr Lamb notes that this benefits only some missions, such as those launching spacecraft into geostationary orbits circling the Earth directly above the Equator. 'And the space tourism or point-to-point space transportation market will probably be driven less by orbitology and more by the commercial demand signals,' he says. Concerns about inclement tropical weather – think monsoon season, or Singapore's high rate of lightning strikes – are also overblown, Mr Gwozdz believes. 'Many locations used as launch sites, such as French Guiana and Florida, have weather very similar to Singapore's. So it's just something you have to deal with.' Flourishing space industry Another advantage is that Singapore already has a nascent but flourishing space industry, largely focused on satellites. According to OSTIn, there are more than 70 companies and 2,000 professionals and researchers here working on everything from satellite design and manufacturing to data processing. Many of them would love to see a spaceport on these shores. Mr Lim Wee Seng, executive director of Nanyang Technological University's Satellite Research Centre, says: 'Singapore could be a good place to build a spaceport, and one part could be for space tourism and the other part for satellites.' He thinks it could also make sense to operate this as a regional network of launch sites. 'It may or may not be in one central location, and we could even launch in our neighbouring countries. 'It would be more ambitious if all of South-east Asia worked together, with different ports in different places.' If Singapore does construct a spaceport, regional relationships will be more important than ever – and could be a hurdle. 'Rockets can appear kind of scary, including to the neighbours,' says Mr Gwozdz. So, if a launch involves another country's airspace, 'the biggest challenge we'll have to overcome is operational cooperation with our neighbours'. But if there is enough will, there's definitely going to be a way, he adds. 'And we've got a lot of the building blocks already in place.' Global Design is a series that explores design ideas and experiences in Singapore and beyond. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
USA Today
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Kellie Gerardi inspires girls to go to space through friendship bracelets and sparkle
Kellie Gerardi inspires girls to go to space through friendship bracelets and sparkle Show Caption Hide Caption Commercial astronaut Kellie Gerardi brings her sparkle to space Commercial astronaut and influencer Kellie Gerardi is one of USA Today's Women of the Year. Kellie Gerardi is one of USA TODAY's Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country. Meet this year's honorees at JUPITER, FLA. − When Kellie Gerardi glanced down at earth from space for the first time a year ago, her jaw dropped. It was a moment she couldn't have prepared for. One thought ran through her mind – that she was no longer on the same planet as her daughter. 'To look down at our home planet with my own eyes was extraordinary and emotional,' says 36-year-old Gerardi, the 90th woman to visit space. 'There were not a lot of people I could look to from a mother's perspective to ask, 'What does that feel like?' ' She whispered, "Hi, Delta," at the window and pictured her 7-year-old daughter Delta Victoria – named after the Delta-V symbol used in spaceflight dynamics – waving back. A clip of Gerardi looking out of the spacecraft's window went viral after she posted it on Instagram. More than one million people follow her account today. She wants to show them all that women can love science and still be sparkly, that STEM and femininity can exist together, and to inspire more girls to learn about space. 'If you were to ask me to close my eyes and picture an astronaut, I'm not picturing someone who looks like me, and I've been (to space),' Gerardi said. 'But if you ask my daughter to draw an astronaut, she's drawing a girl. It's shown me how important representation is.' Gerardi is preparing to launch into space for the second time in 2026. Kellie Gerardi makes dreams of space a reality Gerardi has dreamt of space her entire life. The Jupiter, Florida, native grew up not far from the Space Coast, which made her obsessed with the final frontier. Today, she considers herself a citizen scientist. She studied bioastronautics and wants to understand how space's environment affects the human body. She is also excited about the potential for the commercial spaceflight industry, which could open space to creatives and scientists alike. Her first rocket flight into space was in November 2023 on a research mission with space tourism company Virgin Galactic. Her upcoming mission is also led by Virgin Galactic and will expand on the past flight's research, which looked at how liquid behaves in space. On her first trip, she didn't get nauseous and the only pain she felt was cheek soreness because she smiled so much. Gerardi was the first female payload specialist to go to space with Virgin Galactic. Two bioastronautics researchers will join her on her next trip, Shawna Pandya from Canada and Norah Patten from Ireland. 'It wasn't designed to be an all-female team,' Gerardi said. 'It just so happened that the women in this crew are so exceptional, credible and amazing.' Gerardi credits her mom, Marion Gerardi, with supporting her dream. Last year, Marion threw her a 'career shower' – a party with the same vibe as a baby shower, but celebrating work – when she learned of her second flight. 'I had a wonderful bridal shower and baby shower, but to be able to celebrate the other important moments in life and to really bring our multitudes into the fold is really powerful,' Gerardi said. 'Unwilling to tone down femininity' Gerardi is committed to being her true self. She wore a full face of makeup and stacked her wrist with friendship bracelets – like the ones traded at Taylor Swift concerts – on her first spaceflight. She likened it to her wedding day. It was the highest point in her career up until then, so she wanted to look and feel her best. 'I was unwilling to tone down my femininity or my personality to fit into someone else's perception of what a professional looks like,' Gerardi said. "I wanted to force that picture to expand to include me. That is the aperture I want to keep expanding for the next generation.' Women of the Year Merch 2025 Celebrate Women's History month with pride and style. Shop the collection She later broke apart the bracelets and made more with at least one bead that went to space. She gave them to other Swifties at the Taylor Swift concert in Miami in October. Gerardi encourages others to shoot for the stars. She often gets messages from women inspired by her to go back to school or apply for their dream jobs. She also shares her journey with in vitro fertilization online to help others suffering from infertility not to feel as alone. Still, she gets plenty of criticism. Hate comments don't affect her, though, because she is confident in her identity. 'I don't have a spare thought for any of the folks who have underestimated me or had negative things to say,' Gerardi said. 'When you're doing something that makes your soul click, you just don't have space for dealing with any of the noise.' When Gerardi isn't training for space, she designs space-themed dresses, makes DIY home decor, writes children's books – she has penned the 'Luna Muna' series – and listens to her favorite Taylor Swift song, 'Florida!!!' Gerardi has also curated space decor throughout her house. A mosaic of planets and stars covers the dining room wall, a moon-shaped lamp lights up the living room beneath a pop-art poster of her in a spacesuit, and rocket figurines sprinkle the countertops. She wants to show to her daughter that she doesn't have to choose just one interest. 'Everyone asks if my daughter wants to be an astronaut or if I think she'll follow in my footsteps,' Gerardi said. 'The honest answer is that I have no expectations or desires about her future, except that she feels free to pursue the furthest boundaries of her potential in the same way that I have. . . This mindset that tells you that not even the sky is the limit.' Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kellie Gerardi inspires girls to go to space through friendship bracelets and sparkle
Kellie Gerardi is one of USA TODAY's Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country. Meet this year's honorees at JUPITER, FLA. − When Kellie Gerardi glanced down at earth from space for the first time a year ago, her jaw dropped. It was a moment she couldn't have prepared for. One thought ran through her mind – that she was no longer on the same planet as her daughter. 'To look down at our home planet with my own eyes was extraordinary and emotional,' says 36-year-old Gerardi, the 90th woman to visit space. 'There were not a lot of people I could look to from a mother's perspective to ask, 'What does that feel like?' ' She whispered, "Hi, Delta," at the window and pictured her 7-year-old daughter Delta Victoria – named after the Delta-V symbol used in spaceflight dynamics – waving back. A clip of Gerardi looking out of the spacecraft's window went viral after she posted it on Instagram. More than one million people follow her account today. She wants to show them all that women can love science and still be sparkly, that STEM and femininity can exist together, and to inspire more girls to learn about space. 'If you were to ask me to close my eyes and picture an astronaut, I'm not picturing someone who looks like me, and I've been (to space),' Gerardi said. 'But if you ask my daughter to draw an astronaut, she's drawing a girl. It's shown me how important representation is.' Gerardi is preparing to launch into space for the second time in 2026. Gerardi has dreamt of space her entire life. The Jupiter, Florida, native grew up not far from the Space Coast, which made her obsessed with the final frontier. Today, she considers herself a citizen scientist. She studied bioastronautics and wants to understand how space's environment affects the human body. She is also excited about the potential for the commercial spaceflight industry, which could open space to creatives and scientists alike. Her first rocket flight into space was in November 2023 on a research mission with space tourism company Virgin Galactic. Her upcoming mission is also led by Virgin Galactic and will expand on the past flight's research, which looked at how liquid behaves in space. On her first trip, she didn't get nauseous and the only pain she felt was cheek soreness because she smiled so much. Gerardi was the first female payload specialist to go to space with Virgin Galactic. Two bioastronautics researchers will join her on her next trip, Shawna Pandya from Canada and Norah Patten from Ireland. 'It wasn't designed to be an all-female team,' Gerardi said. 'It just so happened that the women in this crew are so exceptional, credible and amazing.' Gerardi credits her mom, Marion Gerardi, with supporting her dream. Last year, Marion threw her a 'career shower' – a party with the same vibe as a baby shower, but celebrating work – when she learned of her second flight. 'I had a wonderful bridal shower and baby shower, but to be able to celebrate the other important moments in life and to really bring our multitudes into the fold is really powerful,' Gerardi said. Gerardi is committed to being her true self. She wore a full face of makeup and stacked her wrist with friendship bracelets – like the ones traded at Taylor Swift concerts – on her first spaceflight. She likened it to her wedding day. It was the highest point in her career up until then, so she wanted to look and feel her best. 'I was unwilling to tone down my femininity or my personality to fit into someone else's perception of what a professional looks like,' Gerardi said. "I wanted to force that picture to expand to include me. That is the aperture I want to keep expanding for the next generation.' Celebrate Women's History month with pride and style. Shop the collection She later broke apart the bracelets and made more with at least one bead that went to space. She gave them to other Swifties at the Taylor Swift concert in Miami in October. Gerardi encourages others to shoot for the stars. She often gets messages from women inspired by her to go back to school or apply for their dream jobs. She also shares her journey with in vitro fertilization online to help others suffering from infertility not to feel as alone. Still, she gets plenty of criticism. Hate comments don't affect her, though, because she is confident in her identity. 'I don't have a spare thought for any of the folks who have underestimated me or had negative things to say,' Gerardi said. 'When you're doing something that makes your soul click, you just don't have space for dealing with any of the noise.' When Gerardi isn't training for space, she designs space-themed dresses, makes DIY home decor, writes children's books – she has penned the 'Luna Muna' series – and listens to her favorite Taylor Swift song, 'Florida!!!' Gerardi has also curated space decor throughout her house. A mosaic of planets and stars covers the dining room wall, a moon-shaped lamp lights up the living room beneath a pop-art poster of her in a spacesuit, and rocket figurines sprinkle the countertops. She wants to show to her daughter that she doesn't have to choose just one interest. 'Everyone asks if my daughter wants to be an astronaut or if I think she'll follow in my footsteps,' Gerardi said. 'The honest answer is that I have no expectations or desires about her future, except that she feels free to pursue the furthest boundaries of her potential in the same way that I have. . . This mindset that tells you that not even the sky is the limit.' Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Kellie Gerardi is one of only 100 female astronauts
