16 Facts About Jessica Watkins

Jessica Andrea Watkins was born on May 14,1988 and is an American NASA astronaut, geologist, aquanaut, and former international rugby player.

Jessica "Watty" Watkins was born on May 14,1988, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, to Michael and Carolyn Watkins.

Jessica Watkins's family moved to Lafayette, Colorado, where she graduated from Fairview High School in 2006.

Jessica Watkins earned a bachelor's degree in geological and environmental sciences at Stanford University where she was a member of the rugby team.

Jessica Watkins began playing rugby during her freshman year at Stanford and remained on the team for four years.

In both 2008 and 2010, Jessica Watkins became a member of First Team Collegiate Rugby All-American.

Jessica Watkins is a former American women's national team rugby player for the sevens, and played for the USA Eagles in its 3rd-place finish at the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

In 2011, Jessica Watkins served as a science operations team member for an analog mission.

Jessica Watkins has served as a planner for the Mars 2020 rover and a Mars sample-return mission, and was a science team member for a Desert Research and Technology Studies analog mission.

Jessica Watkins contributed to the design of the prospective Uranus orbiter OCEANUS in 2016.

In June 2017, Jessica Watkins was selected as a member of NASA Astronaut Group 22 and began her two-year training in August.

Jessica Watkins is serving as a mission specialist for the six-month mission.

Jessica Watkins's role involves observing and photographing geological changes on Earth, as well as other investigations into Earth and space science, biological science, and the effects of long-duration spaceflight on humans.

Jessica Watkins participated in NEEMO mission 23 from June 10 to 22,2019.

Jessica Watkins's hobbies include soccer, rock climbing, skiing, and creative writing.

Jessica Watkins has received numerous awards for her career, academic, and athletic accomplishments, including:.