Among the NASA crew blasting off most recently is Jessica Watkins, who will spend several months on the International Space Station, the first Black woman to do so. "Growing up and throughout my career it's been really important to see people who look like me or have my background or similar experiences. That I'm able to do that for others, for other young girls or young people of color, I'm grateful for the opportunity to return the favor," Watkins said. She is only the fifth Black woman to join an astronaut crew. She is a geologist and will perform scientific experiments and maintenance while in orbit.