'Not even the sky is the limit': Astronaut talks about recent trek outer space

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (WPEC) — A woman from Jupiter (Florida, not the planet) recently had an out-of-this-world experience.

Astronaut Kellie Gerardi joined WPEC to speak about her recent trip to outer space on the Virgin Galactic 5 mission.

While she was on board she had the opportunity to research several projects she's been working on for years.

Gerardi told WPEC that her recent trek outer space has been the adventure of a lifetime and it's a childhood dream that's been fulfilled.

"When you have a dream like that you're entire career, of course you spend years visualizing it in such detailsm," she explained.

So, you would've thought by now I'd have the words to articulate having imagined it for more than a decade in my career, but it really just surpassed everyone of my expectations

She also shared a message to young girls and women.

"That’s been in the forefront of my mind, especially as the mom of a 6-year-old daughter. I really wanted her to see that I was able to bring my whole self to space. Not compromise on any aspect of my personality, my interest or my femininity, and that was something that was really important to me, and a commitment I made to myself a long time ago. And I think it's really powerful because now even though fewer than 100 women have ever been to space in the history of humanity, when my daughter is told, draw a picture of an astronaut, she is drawing a girl," Gerardi said.

She further said, "I would tell all young girls that you are fully able to be yourself and embrace all of your multitudes and still reach for your dreams. Not even the sky is the limit."