Jessica Watkins on Space Exploration, Artemis and Life Aboard the ISS

Episode at a glance

In this finale of NASA's Curious Universe, host Christian Elliott sits down with Jessica Watkins, a SpaceX Crew 4 astronaut who spent 170 days aboard the International Space Station. Watkins reflects on her journey from a curious kid to an astronaut, explains how plants are grown in microgravity, and describes training that blends geology, engineering and teamwork. The interview also touches on Artemis program goals and paths toward Mars, emphasizing curiosity as a driver of discovery.

• Path to space and breaking barriers as a Black woman in space
• Crew roles and mission training in five focus areas
• Daily life and experiments aboard the ISS including plant growth
• Artemis era and the future of Moon and Mars exploration

Introduction and guest profile

The episode features Jessica Watkins, a member of SpaceX Crew 4 who launched to the ISS aboard a Dragon spacecraft named Freedom. Watkins spent 170 days on the station, contributing to a range of scientific investigations from biology to materials science. The conversation centers on her personal journey, the importance of curiosity, and the diverse backgrounds that NASA seeks for modern spaceflight.

Path to becoming an astronaut

Watkins describes her early fascination with space, tracing it to childhood experiences and mentors, and explains how she found her footing in geology after initially pursuing mechanical engineering. She emphasizes that there is no single path to becoming an astronaut and highlights role models such as Sally Ride and Mae Jemison as inspirations for young people, especially girls of color. The interview also underscores the value of interdisciplinary training and staying curious about multiple fields of science.

Training and team dynamics

The discussion outlines the 2017 NASA astronaut candidate class and the five core training areas that prepare recruits for flight: International Space Station systems, robotics, EVA (spacewalking), piloting the T38 jet, and Russian language training. Watkins notes that on orbit, astronauts train to be Flight Engineers and must collaborate across a broad team of specialists. The rugby field is cited as a surprising source of teamwork skills that translate to spaceflight because success relies on diverse contributions working together toward common goals.

Crew roles on SpaceX Crew 4 and life on the ISS

In Dragon, Watkins and her crewmates had defined roles including mission specialist duties and oversight of ECLSS life-support systems plus cargo operations. After docking at the ISS, the crew adopted flight engineer roles and worked with ground teams and international partners to maintain station operations while conducting experiments. Watkins highlights how the crew balancing of skills and cooperative problem solving is essential to accomplishing difficult tasks in microgravity.

Training facilities and deep-sea analogs

The podcast covers underwater training at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, which simulates microgravity conditions for EVA practice. Watkins also shares her NEEMO experience at the Aquarius underwater habitat off the Florida Keys, which provided a full-circle experience bridging underwater analog missions and space exploration realities.

Artemis program and the Moon to Mars horizon

Looking ahead, Watkins expresses enthusiasm for NASA’s Artemis program and the ongoing lunar return missions, as well as Mars exploration in the distant future. She discusses prioritizing science instruments for lunar samples and how a planetary geologist envisions the interplay between geoscience and human exploration on the Moon and beyond.

Advice, curiosity and closing thoughts

Watkins reiterates the central role of curiosity in pursuing dreams and emphasizes the importance of pursuing passions, collaborating with others, and remaining adaptable as space missions and scientific priorities evolve. The host closes by inviting listeners to explore NASA content and stay curious about the cosmos.