NASA Astronaut Jessica Watkins to Command SpaceX Crew-13 Mission to International Space Station

NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins is set to make another significant mark in space exploration as she prepares to command SpaceX’s Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission, scheduled to launch on October 1, 2026, will carry four astronauts to the orbiting laboratory for a planned six-month stay.

Watkins, a geologist and planetary scientist, has already made history through her work with NASA. She became the first Black woman to undertake a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station when she travelled to the ISS as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission in 2022.

During her earlier mission, Watkins spent several months in orbit conducting scientific research and supporting a range of experiments aboard the station. Her background in geology has also been closely connected with NASA’s efforts to understand planetary surfaces and prepare for future exploration missions.

Before becoming an astronaut, Watkins developed an academic and research career focused on planetary science. She earned a bachelor’s degree in geological and environmental sciences from Stanford University before completing a doctorate in geology and specializing in planetary science at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Watkins joined NASA’s astronaut corps in 2017 after being selected as part of the agency’s 22nd astronaut class. Her training included spacecraft systems, spacewalking procedures, robotics, survival techniques and other skills required for missions beyond Earth.

For Crew-13, Watkins will lead a four-member international team travelling to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. The astronauts will work on scientific investigations, technology demonstrations and routine station operations during their time in orbit.

The upcoming mission is part of NASA’s continuing partnership with SpaceX under the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. The programme has enabled regular crewed flights to the ISS using commercially developed spacecraft while supporting NASA’s broader plans for human space exploration.

Watkins’ appointment as commander places her in a key leadership role during a mission involving scientific research and international cooperation in low-Earth orbit. Her previous experience aboard the ISS is also expected to be valuable as she returns to the station for another extended mission.