Jessica Watkins has become the first black woman to live and work at the International Space Station
Watkins was on SpaceX’s Crew-4 mission, which successfully launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre on a 17 hour journey.
She will spend the next six months on board, alongside her NASA crew mates, where they will conduct experiments relating to microgravity.
In addition, she will assist in carrying out the more than 200 science experiments, while serving as a mission specialist on the expedition.
The crew orbited around Earth before docking at 7:37pm EDT, and 420 kilometres above the Pacific Ocean.
“The Crew-4 astronauts will spend several months aboard the space station conducting new scientific research in areas such as materials science, health technologies, and plant science to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and to benefit life on Earth.”
NASA
Four other black women have travelled to space, but Watkins is the first to work at the International Space Station for an extended period of time.
“I’m definitely honoured to be a small part of that legacy, but ultimately be an equal member of the crew,” she says.
Following this historic mission, Watkins could be heading to the moon. She is currently part of the Artemis team, which NASA is reinstating for the first time since 1972.
