On June 9, 2022, Jessica Watkins set a record as the Black woman with the most cumulative time spent in space, exceeding the previous mark of 43 days. A geologist by training, she has integrated her scientific research on Mars and Earth with a professional background that spans high-level athletics and deep-sea exploration.
Academic and Geological Research
Born in 1988 in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Watkins graduated from Fairview High School in 2006. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Stanford University, earning a degree in geological and environmental sciences. Her academic path continued at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she completed a Ph.D. in geology. Her graduate research investigated the mechanisms of landslides on Mars and Earth, specifically examining the role of water activity under the supervision of An Yin. Her professional preparation included a postdoctoral fellowship at the California Institute of Technology, where she focused on Mars Science Laboratory data and stratigraphy.
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Before joining the astronaut corps, Watkins maintained a notable career in rugby. She played for the Stanford University team throughout her undergraduate years, contributing to a Division I national championship win in 2008. She earned recognition as a First Team Collegiate Rugby All-American in 2008 and 2010. Furthermore, she represented the United States as a member of the women's national sevens team, serving as the leading try scorer for the American squad during their third-place finish at the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
NASA and Subsea Missions
Watkins joined NASA as an undergraduate intern at the Ames Research Center, supporting Mars Phoenix lander prototyping. She later contributed to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory on the NEOWISE project and helped plan operations for the Curiosity rover. In 2019, she served as a participant in NEEMO 23, an underwater mission that utilized the seafloor to test technologies for deep space and lunar exploration. In 2017, she was selected for NASA Astronaut Group 22, eventually becoming the first Black woman assigned to a long-term mission on the International Space Station as part of SpaceX Crew-4.
Future Missions
Selected for the Artemis Team in 2020, Watkins remains central to NASA's lunar exploration goals. Beyond her initial orbital experience, she was named the commander of the SpaceX Crew-13 mission, scheduled for launch in September 2026. This assignment for the Expedition 75/76 crew marks her second station mission and designates her as the first NASA astronaut to fly on a Crew Dragon vehicle on two separate occasions.
Fast facts
- Born: 1988, Gaithersburg
- Education: Stanford University, UCLA
- Occupations: Astronaut, geologist, hydronaut, rugby sevens player
- NEEMO 23 Mission: June 10–22, 2019
- SpaceX Crew-4 launch: April 2022
- Artemis Team selection: December 2020
Questions readers ask
What is Jessica Watkins' primary scientific field?
She is a geologist who specializes in planetary science, focusing on Mars and Earth stratigraphy.
Has she participated in underwater research?
Yes, she participated in the NEEMO 23 mission in 2019, which tested deep space technologies on the seafloor.
Achievements
- Educated at University of California, Los Angeles, Stanford University and Fairview High School
- Worked as geologist, astronaut and hydronaut
