MPR News Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner signs off

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

For the first time, a Black woman will live and work on the International Space Station, starting in April of next year.

, who was born in Maryland but now considers Colorado home, is slated to spend six months on the ISS as a mission specialist. It will be her first mission in space.

The crew for this mission — known as Crew-4 — will be the 

 rotation of astronauts on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to the ISS.

Watkins joined the ranks of NASA astronauts in 2017 and has worked in the space agency's

Watkins says she grew up admiring astronauts like Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space, and Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. And she hopes her work aboard the ISS will inspire more kids of color to aspire to space travel.

"I do hope that all young girls, especially young girls of color that are interested in STEM and interested in exploring space, feel empowered to do so," Watkins 

 last year. "I just hope young girls across the country feel that way now."

And the International Space Station might not be Watkins' only stop in space. With a background in geology and studying the surface of Mars, Watkins would "certainly" be interested in traveling to the red planet, "as long as we have a ride back," she joked in the CPR interview. 

Deepa Shivaram

Author

Watkins will join the fourth SpaceX Crew next April on her way to entering the ranks of other history-making women at NASA like astronauts Mae Jemison and Sally Ride.

Jessica Watkins will be the first Black woman to live and work on the space station

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox