Kellie Gerardi prepares for all-female spaceflight in 2026

Astronaut Kellie Gerardi is preparing for her next spaceflight in 2026. She gained attention in 2023 when she flew on a Virgin Galactic suborbital flight, becoming one of fewer than 100 women to travel to space. Gerardi is sharing her training routine as she gears up for a mission that will include an all-female crew. To prepare for space, Gerardi is focusing on her physical fitness. She jokes about taking her "Vitamin G," which involves practicing flying in zero-gravity and high-g environments on Earth. These exercises help ensure that equipment works as planned in space. Good heart health is essential for handling the high G forces during flight, so she includes plenty of cardio workouts in her routine. Gerardi enjoys walking, jogging, and interval training for core strength. Gerardi’s upcoming mission will not be as long as others, which means she won't face as many health changes as astronauts who spend months in space. She notes that women's health has become a significant focus since the early days of space travel. Gerardi will lead a research team dedicated to women's health studies during the flight. In addition to fitness, Gerardi has teamed up with a shoe brand called Ryka. They create athletic shoes designed specifically for women. She appreciates that the shoes are made for female feet, not just adapted from men's designs. While astronauts often go without shoes on longer missions, Gerardi explained that for shorter flights, they can wear sneakers. She found her shoes helpful during her research spaceflight because they provided stability while operating equipment.