If you spend any time on TikTok or Instagram, you’ve probably seen the "Space Mom" herself. Kellie Gerardi, the researcher who flew with Virgin Galactic and made us all feel like maybe we should have paid more attention in science class, is incredibly open about her life. She shares the launches, the glitter, and the parenting. But lately, there’s been a weirdly persistent rumor floating around the internet: is Kellie Gerardi’s daughter adopted? Let’s just get the facts straight right at the jump. Honestly, people get this confused all the time, but Delta Victoria—fondly known to millions as Delta V—is Kellie’s biological daughter. She wasn't adopted. She was born in 2017 to Kellie and her husband, Steven Baumruk.
The confusion usually stems from the way Kellie talks about her family-building journey. She’s been very loud (and very helpful) about her struggles with secondary infertility, IVF, and the heartbreak of pregnancy loss. When people hear "IVF" or "fertility journey," their brains sometimes jump to adoption as the next chapter. But in this case, the story is a bit different.
The Story Behind Delta V (It’s Literal Rocket Science)
Kellie didn't just pick a cute name out of a baby book. Delta V is actually a math term ($\Delta v$). In spacecraft dynamics, it represents the change in velocity. Basically, it's the "effort" needed to get from one place to another in space. For a kid whose parents had a space-themed wedding officiated by an actual ISS commander, it’s basically the most "on-brand" name in history.
Delta was born naturally in November 2017. Since then, she’s become a bit of a mini-celebrity herself. She’s the girl who thinks going to space is just "something moms do." Kellie has often said that having Delta didn't slow her down; it actually made her dreams feel more urgent. She wants her daughter to grow up in a world where a woman in a flight suit is normal.
So, why do people keep asking if she's adopted?
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- The IVF Advocacy: Kellie has shared the "A-plot" of her life recently—her secondary infertility.
- The Timing: She’s been very public about trying for a second child, which involves a lot of medical talk that sometimes gets mixed up in the gossip mill.
- The Pregnancy Losses: In early 2025, Kellie shared the devastating news of a miscarriage at nine weeks. This level of transparency is rare for public figures, and it led to a lot of speculation about how she and Steven would grow their family.
Why the "Kellie Gerardi Daughter Adopted" Rumor Won't Die
Search engines are funny. Once a few people type a question like "is Kellie Gerardi's daughter adopted?" into the search bar, it starts to auto-fill for everyone else. It creates a feedback loop of misinformation.
In reality, Kellie and Steven have been through the ringer with secondary infertility. This is a specific type of struggle where a couple who already has a child has trouble conceiving again. It’s a unique kind of grief. You have the joy of the child you already have, but the "heavy and dark" feeling of the one you're trying to bring into the world.
Kellie’s openness about her 2024 and 2025 IVF rounds actually helped de-stigmatize the process for her followers. She didn't hide the "failed" transfers or the "graduation" appointments that ended in silence instead of a heartbeat. That’s likely where the adoption questions started—people looking for "what's next" in her story.
Current Status of the Gerardi Family
As of late 2025 and heading into 2026, there’s actually some huge news. After a second round of IVF, Kellie announced she was pregnant again. She described the timing as a "wink from the universe," finding out she was pregnant the same day she was asked to replace Diana Ross as the Godmother of Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas.
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Talk about a week.
She’s currently documenting this pregnancy with the same "warts and all" honesty. She’s mentioned that not every IVF journey ends in a baby, and she wants to make sure people know the reality of the toll—mental, physical, and financial—that it takes on a family.
Balancing Spaceflight and Motherhood
While dealing with all of this on Earth, Kellie is still a professional astronaut. She’s slated to lead the IIAS-02 research mission in 2026. This mission is a big deal—it’s an all-female research crew flying on Virgin Galactic's Delta-class spacecraft.
She's basically living two lives at once:
- The Researcher: Doing biomedical and thermodynamic fluid experiments in microgravity.
- The Mom: Making slime with Delta and navigating the high-stakes world of IVF.
It’s this "multitudes" thing that makes her so relatable. You don't have to be a "career woman" or a "mom." You can be both, even if both parts of your life are currently under a microscope (literally, in the case of her IVF embryos).
What You Can Take Away From Kellie’s Journey
If you’ve been following the "Kellie Gerardi daughter adopted" threads, the real story is much more nuanced than a simple "yes" or "no." It’s a story about the changing face of motherhood in 2026.
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- Representation Matters: Delta V grows up seeing her mom in a spacesuit. That changes what she thinks is possible.
- Secondary Infertility is Real: Just because you have one child doesn't mean the path to a second is easy.
- Transparency Heals: By talking about her miscarriage and IVF, Kellie has built a community that isn't just about the "glamour" of space.
If you’re interested in following the latest updates, Kellie is incredibly active on her social channels. She’s currently prepping for her 2026 mission while navigating her second pregnancy. It’s a lot to juggle, but if anyone can handle the $\Delta v$ of a changing life, it’s probably an astronaut.
Actionable Next Steps:
If you or someone you know is navigating secondary infertility, look for communities that specialize in "TTC" (Trying to Conceive) after a first child. Following accounts like Kellie's can provide a sense of "digital sisterhood," but also consider consulting with a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE) early on if you're over 35 or have been trying for more than six months. Knowledge is power, whether you're building a rocket or a family.