The Good Stuff: Astronaut Jessica Watkins Day, Saturday April 27th
On April 16th the City Council voted to approve a proclamation making April 27th Astronaut Jessica Watkins Day. Although born in Georgia Dr. Watkins calls Lafayette her hometown.
Here’s her bio on the NASA website
A YouTube video:
PROCLAMATION
ASTRONAUT JESSICA WATKINS DAY APRIL 27, 2024
WHEREAS, Jessica Watkins was born in Gaithersburg, Maryland but considers Lafayette, Colorado her hometown, her parents, Michael and Carolyn Watkins, still live here; and
WHEREAS, Jessica Watkins graduated from Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado, earned a Bachelor of Science in Geological and Environmental Sciences from Stanford University and a Doctorate in Geology from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she studied Mars surface process and conducted her graduate research on the emplacement mechanisms of large landslides on Mars and Earth; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Watkins served as chief geologist for a NASA analogue mission at the mars Desert Research Station in 2009 and as a science operations team member for a NASA Desert Research and Technology Studies analog mission in 2011. Dr. Watkins also served as an aquanaut crew member in the Aquarius underwater habitat for the 2019 NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) 23 Mission; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Watkins was selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candidate class, reporting to duty in August 2017 and completing two years of training as an astronaut candidate; and
WHEREAS, during the two-year period she worked at NASA’s Ames Research Center and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, was a science team collaborator for NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity; and
WHEREAS, her work included participation in daily planning of rover activities, testing of Mars rock physical properties, and multi-scale investigating of the geologic history of Gale crater. While at Caltech, Dr. Watkins also served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Caltech Women’s Basketball team; and
WHEREAS, on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, Vice President Mike Pence named her as one of 18 astronauts to lead the United States in a multibillion-dollar effort called Artemis, to return humans, including the first woman and the first person of color, to the surface of the moon in 2025; and
WHEREAS, the astronauts NASA sent to the moon during the Apollo program were all white men, in recent years the agency has sought to make its astronaut program more representative of the American population, and
WHEREAS, Dr. Watkins completed her first spaceflight as a mission specialist on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission (April 27- October 14, 2022), having logged a total of 170 days in space over her two increments, Expedition 67 and 68; and
WHEREAS, becoming an astronaut was something Dr. Watkins dreamed about since childhood; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Watkins believes that representation is very important in whatever form it takes, and that if you can make a connection with someone who looks like you, has the same background as you, and comes from the same place as you, you can help that person see paths of possibility and realize that their dreams can become a reality; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Watkins hopes other young girls and children of color see what she has accomplished and are inspired to pursue their dreams and never give up; and
WHEREAS, a City of Lafayette City Council Strategic Outcome is to be a SAFE, WELCOMING, AND INCLUSIVE community that maintains as a sense of small town livability by promoting a diversity of culture, ideas, and neighborhoods.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Mayor and City Council of the City of Lafayette, Colorado, do hereby declare April 27, 2024 to be Astronaut Jessica Watkins Day and encourage all residents to support and recognize our diverse and inclusive community where everyone can feel safe and inspired to reach for their dreams.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 16th DAY OF APRIL, 2024.
