Family sends off first Black astronaut on extended ISS mission

Many are anticipating the launch of NASA’s Crew-4.Commander Kjell Lindgren, pilot Bob Hays, mission specialist Jessica Watkins and Italian mission specialist Samantha Cristoforetti are set to launch early Wednesday morning for the International Space Station.Watkins will make history during this extended mission.She will be the fifth Black woman to go to space and the first Black woman to spend six months on the ISS.Watkins says this moment means a lot to her and her legacy.”I am just really honored to be part of the long legacy of Black astronauts and Black women astronauts who came before me. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a small part in that toward an exciting future as well,” she said.This moment also means a lot to Watkins’ family as they watch her live out a childhood dream.Watkins is the cousin of WESH 2’s Christina Watkins. She got to speak with family about the excitement and nerves they’re feeling about the mission.”I am really excited for Jessie. I think the pictures of her landing here at Kennedy Space Center, just her smile. The way that she’s so light-hearted and everything cracks her up, the giggles. I just think you see the joy she’s experiencing in this moment and that just makes my heart so happy. She’s living her best life,” said Watkins’ older sister, Jasmine Watkins.”She continues to inspire me and I’m so proud of her. I’m excited for the three of them to be up there with her and a little bit jealous,” she said.Her parents, Michael and Carolyn, said they remember Jessica, or Jessie as they call her, manifesting this moment when she was a little girl. They said she was always active and even did rocket launches for science experiments as a child. Watkins’ mom also reflected on the poem she wrote about being an astronaut. “She wrote a little poem, as probably an 8- or 9-year-old, about her going to space and being an astronaut. The title was ‘My Little Astronaut.’ It was about the food that she had and how she thought of her mom. At the very end of it, the poignant part for me is when mom says to her, ‘good night, my little astronaut,'” her mom said.Even though Watkins always knew she wanted to be an astronaut and go to space, her family says she tried just about every sport and succeeded at everything, especially rugby. Watkins began playing rugby during her freshman year at Stanford and stayed on the team for four years. She is also a former American women’s national team rugby player for the Sevens and played for the USA Eagles at the 2009 Rugby World Cub Sevens. Watkins was the leading try scorer for the U.S team. “I first thought Jessica was going to be a rugby star. When we went over to Dubai to see her play, kids were walking around with afro wigs on because she was such a good player,” said Watkins’ grandmother, Betty Watkins.”Jessica was into sports. I’ve traveled around the country with her, but I told her this was one journey she’s going on, that I would not go with her. I’m going with her mentally and spiritually,” said Laura Stokes, Watkins’ grandmother.Just as proud as Watkins’ grandmothers were to watch her play rugby, they’re even more excited to see her make history in space. “I feel like a proud peacock to know her and just to share this experience with her. It’s been a journey. This is not something that just happened. She started early with determination,” Stokes said.”You can be anything long as you get educated and you get your mind set on doing it. That’s what Jessica did. Whatever she did, she excelled. If it was playing soccer, playing basketball, playing rugby, whatever she did, she came out on top,” Watkins said.  As Watkins makes history on this mission, her parents admit they’re nervous. “Obviously, as a mother, I am very proud and very excited for Jessica. At the same time, as a mother, I have anxiety about the future and, you know, my little girl going up into space is sort of surreal at the same time. I’m excited, proud of her, and scared, somewhat, at the same time. I think there are a lot of prayers that are going with her and I have to think beyond what I’m feeling, what my emotions are. I know that it’s all about her. It’s about how hard she’s worked to accomplish her dream that she’s had since very early,” said Watkins’ mom, Carolyn.”The Lord had a plan for her and we’re seeing that come to fruition. It is all very real and surreal at the same time. Jessica said she’s donated her body to science. That’s the nature of being an astronaut. So, I have to accept that and approach it in that way,” said Watkins’ father, Michael.”Team Watkins” is over the moon for their loved one. They are so proud and praying for a safe trip.”I talked to her a few days ago. I was starting to feel a little emotional and it was starting to hit me. She probably caught up on that in my voice and she even said something to me. She said, ‘but mom, this is my dream,'” Watkins’ mom said.”She’s still our Jessie. Our little Jessie, and that has never changed. We’re very blessed. Very proud of her. I really hope she literally has a blast.”

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