Jessica Andrea Watkins is an American NASA astronaut, geologist, aquanaut and former international rugby player. Watkins was announced as the first Black woman who completed an International Space Station long-term mission in April 2022. On June 9, 2022, at 7:38 UTC, she became the African American woman with the most time in space, surpassing Stephanie Wilson's 42 day, 23 hour and 46 minute record.
Watkins in 2019
Watkins as a NASA astronaut candidate in June 2017
Stephanie Diana Wilson is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. She flew to space onboard three Space Shuttle missions, and is the second African American woman to go into space, after Mae Jemison. As of 2022, her 42 days in space are the second most of any female African American astronaut, having been surpassed by Jessica Watkins in 2022, however in 2024 she was assigned to the Crew-9 mission during which she should retake the lead.
Wilson in 2008
Wilson during STS-120, with a model of Node 2 floating in front of her
Wilson participates in a training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center
The four astronauts of STS-131 and Expedition 23 (Wilson to the bottom right), the first time four women being at the same time in space.
