NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins has made history as the first Black woman to command a crew into orbit, leading four astronauts on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Watkins commanded NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission, which launched on October 1 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. The crew reached the ISS approximately eight hours later, setting a record for the fastest journey to the orbiting laboratory by a US spacecraft.
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The mission includes NASA astronaut Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. The four joined the station’s Expedition 75 crew for a six-month mission involving scientific research and experiments.
Watkins’ latest achievement builds on her previous milestone in 2022, when she became the first Black woman to complete a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station. As a mission specialist on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission, she spent 170 days in space, contributing to station operations and scientific research.
Her background in geology has also contributed to her work in space exploration. Watkins earned a bachelor’s degree in geological and environmental sciences from Stanford University and a doctorate in geology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Before becoming an astronaut, she worked with NASA’s Ames Research Center and Jet Propulsion Laboratory and contributed to the science team for the Mars Curiosity rover.
NASA selected Watkins as an astronaut in 2017. Her career has since included research and operational work supporting the agency’s efforts to understand the effects of long-duration spaceflight and prepare for future exploration missions.
During Crew-13, Watkins and her colleagues are expected to conduct experiments in areas including human health, disease modelling and crop production in microgravity. The research could help scientists improve life on Earth while supporting preparations for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
Speaking after the crew arrived at the space station, Watkins expressed excitement about the mission and reflected on the lengthy journey that had brought her to the milestone.
Her achievement marks another significant moment for Black women in space exploration, a field in which representation has historically been limited. By commanding Crew-13, Watkins has expanded that representation while continuing her work in scientific research and human spaceflight.
