Jessica Andrea Watkins (born May 14, 1988) is a NASA astronaut, geologist, aquanaut, and former international rugby player from the United States. Watkins was confirmed as the first Black woman to finish a long-term mission on the International Space Station in April 2022.
She surpassed Stephanie Wilson’s 42-day, 23-hour, 46-minute record on June 9, 2022, at 7:38 UTC. Jessica “Watty” Michael and Carolyn Watkins gave birth to Watkins on May 14, 1988, in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Her family relocated to Lafayette, Colorado, where she attended Fairview High School. She attended Stanford University, where she played rugby and received a bachelor’s degree in geology and environmental sciences.
Jessica Watkins siblings: Meet her sister Jasmine Watkins
Jasmine Watkins is the elder sister of the renowned Astronaut. However, there is not much available about her or her personal details.
Watkins started playing rugby during her freshman year at Stanford and stayed with the squad for four years. She was a member of the Division I national champion squad in 2008, her sophomore year.
Watkins was named a First Team Collegiate Rugby All-American in both 2008 and 2010. She is a former American women’s national team rugby sevens player who competed for the USA Eagles in their third-place finish at the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens. During the World Cup, she was the US team’s leading try scorer.
