Jessica Watkins

Jessica Watkins is the first female black astronaut to fly a longer space mission.[1][2][3] She has a Bachelor of Science degree in geological and environmental sciences from Stanford.[2][3] Watkins also has a doctorate in geology from the University of California, Los Angeles.[2][3] During her studies at UCLA, she interned for NASA at the Ames Research Facility.[2] Watkins worked as a science team member for NASA’s Curiosity Rover.[2][3] She was also a Chief Geologist with NASA at the Mars Desert Research in Utah.[3] Additionally, she worked as an aquanaut in the underwater habitat in Florida for NEEMO’s 23rd mission.[3] Watkins was also one of the 12 new astronaut candidates selected out of 18,300 applicants.[3] She spent two years in basic astronaut training and another two years preparing for her ISS mission.[1] Watkins spent six months on the ISS.[2] She collaborated with Russian cosmonauts and served as the team’s mission specialist.[1][2] Lastly, Watkins was one of 18 astronauts selected to join the scientists who worked on NASA’s Artemis project.[2] The Artemis team was the first group in 50 years to go to the moon.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Wattles, Jackie (2023-02-10). "This astronaut hopes to open more doors in space". CNN. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Gamillo, Elizabeth. "NASA Astronaut Jessica Watkins Becomes the First Black Woman to Join International Space Station Crew". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Gohd, Chelsea (2022-03-24). "Jessica Watkins: NASA astronaut and 1st Black woman to fly a long-duration spaceflight". Space. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
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