Kiah Erlich

Karsen

How and why did you get into the space industry?

Kiah

I grew up near the Vandenberg Air Force Base, where I witnessed rocket launches all the time. However, becoming an astronaut didn’t feel like an achievable path, almost as improbable as becoming a rock star.   Aviation, on the other hand, seemed within reach. I was surrounded by pilots, including women pilots, who ignited my passion for aviation, and that's where I got the bug for flying. After establishing a career at Honeywell and in the aviation industry, an unexpected NASA sales director position opened up at Blue Origin. Despite not meeting all the job requirements, I decided to apply on a whim after the recruiter encouraged me to submit my resume, even if I wasn’t a perfect fit. At the time, this was the only non-engineering job that Blue Origin was hiring at the time, and I had about 50% of the requirements. To my surprise, the recruiter called me back and told me that I had been considered for the role. It took Blue Origin six months to decide if they wanted me or not, and during their deliberation, I threw myself into preparation. I taught myself orbital mechanics and immersed myself in NASA’s intricacies via YouTube videos. After I secured the position, I jumped right into selling orbital launch vehicles to NASA.

Karsen

Wow. What an incredible journey and story.

Kiah

You don't have to have the experience. You just have to have the drive and the desire to get there and teach yourself along the way. But never be afraid to apply for a job that you aren't 100% qualified for.

Karsen

I think that's great advice. I’d like to know more about your time in aviation school, what was that like?

Kiah

I got an undergrad degree from Auburn University in aviation management. At the time it was in the College of Business. It consisted of a bachelor's degree in business with a focus on aviation. That meant aviation law, aviation marketing, crew resource management, safety systems, and I was flying on the side as well. I got my master’s degree in business administration with a focus on aviation at Embry Brittle Aeronautical University. So, again, you're writing papers about the aviation industry. You're applying everything you learned from the business side to the aviation industry.

Karsen

You mentioned encouraging people to apply for jobs even if they lack the experience. Would you extend that advice to individuals aspiring to join the space industry?

Kiah

I would advise people to teach themselves as much as they can. There’s a statistic out there that suggests that fewer women apply for jobs they feel underqualified for compared to men, who tend to be more assertive and willing to peruse roles where they may not meet every requirement. The reason behind that isn’t entirely clear, but my recommendation remains unchanged: Don’t hesitate to try new opportunities. Even through the application and interview process, there’s always something to gain. Every step – from researching the company to dissecting the job description – each step offers valuable learning experiences that shape your career journey. I would tell them to embrace the learning process and trust that even applying itself is step forward.

Karsen

I 100% agree. The commercial space industry is a nascent industry and it has significant growth potential ahead. Where do you think it has to go? What do you think the big next step is?

Kiah

We are currently witnessing what I consider to be the golden age of aviation. Just as air travel become assessable to the masses in its early days, space exploration is now reaching a similar turning point. Historically, space travel was limited to major military and governmental agencies with billions of dollars in funding, making it essentially unattainable for many countries and individuals. However, with recent advancements such as reusable launch vehicles and increased launch frequency, it’s reducing the cost. This marks a pivotal moment in the space industry, as we are making it more accessible to a broader population, one step at a time.

Karsen

When you said the pinnacle of the aviation industry, I thought back to when planes and flights were reserved for incredibly wealthy people. Now, millions of people take flights every day. Do you think the space industry could move towards something like that, where millions of people are flying to space every day?

Kiah

Absolutely. Back in the golden age kind of aviation, when they were starting the transcontinental flight, coast to coast from LA to New York, the average ticket price was about $4,000. About $200 back then, about $4000 now. Up until the commercial space industry stepped up and started doing more commercial offerings, it was costing anywhere from $50 to $100 million to send an astronaut to the International Space Station. That's a big gap, Airlines got their costs down from $4,000 a ticket to now you can go as low as $99 across the country if you want. We're starting to get there in space, and it's not going to take $50 to $100 million to go to the International Space Station. The more that we fly, the more reusable the vehicles are, the cheaper that we'll get. It's not going to get to $4,000 in my lifetime, but it's coming down drastically just like it did in the aviation industry.

Karsen

Do you believe there will be more opportunities in the space industry? With jobs that don’t necessarily require a background in aerospace engineering or quantum physics.

Kiah

Yes, absolutely. Even at Blue Origin, we have people who come from all different industries, and when you're working with hospitality, management, or service, you're not thinking of how your skills apply to the space industry.

Karsen

Would you say that there are constraints to being a woman in the space industry?

Kiah

I believe the space industry offers a better environment than where I came from in aviation, which still has progress to make. Most of the teams that I work with now are composed mostly of women, which is a significant shift from being the only woman in the room or on the floor. The growing normalization of women working in male-dominated industries is very encouraging, as it shows other women that space careers are attainable. If you can see it, you can be it. However, there’s still a substantial gap in the number of women flying to space. For instance, Blue Origin has flown 9% of all female astronauts, which is a start but not nearly enough. There’s a tremendous opportunity not only to inspire women to pursue space travel but also to spark their interest in the space industry.

Karsen

Do you think the gap exists because women feel they aren’t capable? Is it that fewer women are interested in flying to space, or they doubt their qualifications?

Kiah

Honestly, I’m not entirely sure. Part of it might be due to a maternal instinct; women tend to be more calculated and less included to take risks. However, the past decade has seen significant changes. More women are taking risks, starting businesses, leading companies, and accomplishing amazing feats like climbing Mount Everest. Traditionally male-dominated industries and sports have seen a substantial increase in female participation over the past ten years. Women are getting in the game. Women are stepping up, and when you see role models achieving these milestones, it encourages others to follow suit.

Karsen

Is there anything specific you would say to women who are either scared or have any constraints about joining the space industry?

Kiah

Follow your heart. If you follow your heart, then you're where you're supposed to be. There's nothing to be afraid of. You might feel scared to leave behind your cushy career, but that's the only way you're going to grow. You don't grow unless you're uncomfortable.