Jessica Watkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jessica Watkins
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Watkins in 2019
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Jessica Andrea Watkins
May 14, 1988 Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S.
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| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
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Time in space
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170d 13h 3m |
| Selection | NASA Group 22 (2017) |
| Missions | SpaceX Crew-4 (Expedition 67/68) |
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Mission insignia
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Geology |
| Thesis | Tectonic and Aqueous Processes in the Formation of Mass-Wasting Features on Mars and Earth (2015) |
| Doctoral advisor | An Yin |
Jessica Andrea Watkins, born on May 14, 1988, is an amazing American NASA astronaut, a scientist who studies rocks (a geologist), and even a former international rugby player! She made history as the first Black woman to live and work on the International Space Station for a long time. This happened in April 2022. By June 9, 2022, she had spent more time in space than any other African American woman, passing Stephanie Wilson's record.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jessica "Watty" Watkins was born on May 14, 1988, in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Her parents are Michael and Carolyn Watkins. Her family later moved to Lafayette, Colorado.
High School and College
Jessica graduated from Fairview High School in 2006. She then went to Stanford University. There, she earned a bachelor's degree in geological and environmental sciences. She was also a key member of the university's rugby team.
Advanced Studies
After Stanford, Watkins continued her studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned a Ph.D. in geology. Her research focused on how landslides happen on Mars and Earth. She studied how water affects these big movements of land. Before becoming an astronaut, she worked at the California Institute of Technology. She also helped coach the women's basketball team there.
Rugby Career
Jessica Watkins started playing rugby during her first year at Stanford. She played for the team for four years. In 2008, her team won the Division I national championship.
National Team Player
Watkins was named a First Team Collegiate Rugby All-American in both 2008 and 2010. She also played for the American women's national rugby team. She was part of the USA Eagles team. They finished third at the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens. During that World Cup, she scored more tries than anyone else on the US team.
NASA Career
Jessica Watkins has done a lot of important work with NASA. As a college student, she helped with the Mars Phoenix lander. She also worked on testing a prototype Mars drill. In 2009, she was the chief geologist for a NASA research crew. This crew worked at the Mars Desert Research Station.
Working on Mars Missions
As a graduate student, she worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She helped with the NEOWISE project. This project looked for asteroids near Earth. Watkins also helped plan for the Mars rover Curiosity. In 2011, she was part of a science team for a special practice mission.
She helped plan for the Mars 2020 rover and a mission to bring Mars samples back to Earth. She also studied images from the Mars rover. She used these images to learn about the geology and landforms of Mars. She even helped design a possible spacecraft to orbit Uranus in 2016.
Becoming an Astronaut
In June 2017, Jessica Watkins was chosen to be part of NASA Astronaut Group 22. She started her two-year training in August. In December 2020, she was picked for the Artemis Team. This team aims to send humans back to the Moon.
In November 2021, she was assigned to a long mission on the International Space Station (ISS). She was the fourth astronaut from her group to get this assignment. She was also the first Black woman from her group to go on a long-duration mission. She was the final member of the SpaceX Crew-4 mission, which launched in April 2022.
This was Watkins' first time in space. She worked as a mission specialist for the six-month trip. Her job included observing and photographing Earth's geological changes. She also did other research on Earth and space science. She studied biological science and how long spaceflights affect humans.
NEEMO 23 Mission
Watkins took part in the NEEMO mission 23 from June 10 to 22, 2019. This mission tested new technologies and goals for deep space and Moon explorations. They did these tests on the seafloor. Watkins' NEEMO mission was special because it was the first to have an all-female research team. Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti led the team.
Personal Life
Jessica Watkins' parents live in Lafayette, Colorado. She has one sister. Her hobbies include playing soccer, rock climbing, skiing, and creative writing.
Awards and Honors
Jessica Watkins has received many awards for her amazing career, studies, and sports achievements. Some of these include:
- Jessica Watkins Day, April 19, 2022, in Lafayette, Colorado
- Stanford Earth Early- to Mid- Career Alumni Award, 2018
- Caltech Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences Chair's Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2015
- NASA Group Achievement Award for the Mars Science Laboratory Team, 2015
- Harold and Mayla Sullwold Scholarship for Academic Excellence, UCLA, 2012
- Graduate Research Fellowship in Geosciences, National Science Foundation, 2012
- Chancellor's Prize, UCLA, 2010
- Division I College Rugby National Champion with Stanford Women's Rugby, 2008
- USA Rugby Collegiate All-American, 2008-2010
- Women's Sevens Rugby World Cup Semi-finalist with USA Eagles, 2009
See also
In Spanish: Jessica Watkins para niños
