'Liftoff!' former USA international heading to Space

Former USA Eagles International Jessica Watkins makes history by becoming the first Black woman to be on an International Space Station.

Watkins represented her country in both the sevens and XVs formats helping the USA Eagles finish in 3rd-place at the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Since then, she has gone on to become a NASA astronaut and iIn June 2017, Watkins was selected as a member of NASA Astronaut Group 22

On April 27, Watkins was launched to the Space Station as part of SpaceX's Crew-4 mission alongside NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, the mission's commander, and Robert Hines as well as European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.

A historical moment.pic.twitter.com/9fruK4VEAl

— USA Rugby (@USARugby) April 27, 2022

The mission will see the crew spend about six months aboard the station.

Watkins could make more history as she is one of NASA's Artemis astronauts who could fly to and land on the moon.

"I think it's important to recognize this as a milestone for our agency and for our country, as well, to know that we are building on the foundation that was laid by the Black woman astronauts who've come before me," Watkins told NPR's Morning Edition earlier this year about flying with Crew-4.

"I'm definitely honored to be a small part of that legacy, but ultimately be an equal member of the crew."