Former NASA chief economist named new head of Canadian Space Agency

Jessica Watkins made history when she became the first Black woman to command a crewed mission to space. She assumed command of SpaceX's Crew-13 mission, which launched on October 1, 2026, with her and three other astronauts aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. As their Crew Dragon capsule lifted off, Watkins made history as the first Black woman to command a space mission.

This accomplishment is particularly significant because spaceflight and space science have traditionally been dominated by white and male astronauts. Watkins' historic milestone comes at a time when diversity and inclusion are being recognized as crucial in all fields, including space exploration.

Watkins is not only a geologist, aquanaut, and former professional rugby player, but she also brings valuable experience as a NASA astronaut. She has spent over 200 days in space, with her upcoming six-month mission being her second spaceflight. Her diverse skill set and leadership qualities make her an excellent choice to command this mission.

Jessica Watkins' historic achievement has been celebrated by people across the globe, but NASA has not made a public statement specifically commemorating her historic role. Despite this, the agency emphasized in an email to Space.com that Watkins was selected as commander based on her experience, leadership, and ability to help the mission accomplish its objectives.

As for the future of space exploration, Watkins' historic achievement may inspire other nations to follow suit. With the U.S. and the Soviet Union being the only nations to have launched Black astronauts into space, there is certainly room for more diversity in spaceflight. Commercial spaceflight, in particular, has opened up new opportunities and access for people from all backgrounds, making it a vital tool for diversifying spaceflight.

Jessica Watkins' selection as mission commander by Jared Isaacman, who also serves as NASA administrator, showcases the growing role of commercial space in promoting diversity. With women making up roughly 45% of NASA's astronaut corps and 25% of people of color, Watkins hopes that future crewed moon landings with NASA's Artemis program will be diverse as well. She believes that NASA is already on the right track, having selected diverse individuals from various backgrounds for their missions.