NASA Astronaut Jessica Watkins Becomes First Black Woman to Command a Space Mission
NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins has made history by becoming the first Black woman to command a crewed mission to space. She is leading SpaceX's Crew-13 mission, which launched on October 1, 2026, to the International Space Station (ISS). This marks Watkins' second spaceflight, having previously flown on SpaceX's Crew-4 mission in 2022, accumulating over 200 days in space. A geologist, astronaut, aquanaut, and former professional rugby player, Watkins brings a diverse skill set to her role as mission commander. While NASA confirmed the pioneering nature of her achievement, the agency did not issue a public statement commemorating the milestone. Commercial astronaut Sian Proctor, the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft, emphasized the significance of Watkins' leadership for diversity in spaceflight.