Dr Jessica Watkins has become the first person to write a scientific report from place , as the final stage of equal - review bring place when the NASA astronaut was already up on the International Space Station ( ISS ) . IFLScience spoke to Watkins about this unusual criminal record as well as the experience of doing skill high above our heads .
The theme , published in theJournal of Geophysical Research : Planets , was part of Watkins ’s geology post - doctoral research on data colligate to Mars ’s Gale Crater , which NASA ’s Curiosity is presently exploring . Led by Watkins , the work delivers insights into the geological change the Red Planet experienced , turning it from a water - rich basin to the dry wintry site that it is today .
fortuitously , the majority of the paper was already complete prior to launching , because admittance to resource would certainly be a challenge on - ambit ,
Watkins working on electrical system components inside the ISS’s Harmony module. Image Credit: NASA
“ The newspaper key out the discovery of an unconformity , or a discontinuity in the time of dethronement , in a sequence of sedimentary stone in Gale crater on Mars , " Dr Watkins told IFLScience .
" This unconformity separates tilt that form while a lake was present in the crater , and overlying rock which formed when the climate was much drier , leading to the formation of eolian Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin dunes . As such , the unconformity read a changeover from wet to dry out climate in Gale volcanic crater , providing evidence logical with a global transition from pissed to dry out clime on Mars . "
AGU is committed to open science and heart-to-heart data so scientist all around the world can collaborate . Why should infinite be an obstruction ?
Watkins posing the Blue Flight Control Room at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
“ Luckily , the majority of the newspaper was already complete prior to launch , because memory access to resources would certainly be a challenge on - orbit , " Dr Watkins explained to IFLScience .
" In addition to special data and communication bandwidth aboard the ISS , physical bandwidth in terms of prison term and energy to switch focus to a non - mission decisive task is also limited as an ISS bunch member . But thanks to the inscription of my co - author , I was able to review the article proof and complete the issue process from the ISS . "
JGR : Planets is one of the journal of theAmerican Geophysical Union ( AGU ) . Published by Wiley , the organizations had to collaborate with NASA to make this publication happen .
A sentiment repeat by Matthew Giampoala , AGU ’s Vice President of Publications , who recite us : “ AGU is committed to open science and open datum so scientist all around the human race can collaborate . Why should place be an obstacle ? ”
While astronauts rarely write papers in space and have only just started publish them , they do contribute a bunch to scientific research .
“ Here on the ISS , we are inside to be able to participate in ground - breaking inquiry on behalf of scientist and engineers around the reality who design experiments to collect data on the ISS , analyze that information on the ground , and then publish their findings in peer - review journals , ” Watkins told IFLScience .
“ As a result , the salutary way to support ISS gang involvement in the research process is to persist in to enquire new questions and innovate unexampled means of using the microgravity environment of ISS to reply them ! ”
Among the many projects Dr Watkins is work on 420 kilometers above our head is the observe and photographing of geological changes on Earth . Thanks to being in low - Earth orbit and Watkins ’s expertness , the project is sure to render a alone perspective of our planet .
We are so activated about NASA ’s upcoming Artemis missions . sure as shooting for me , the prospect of being a part of the effort to conduct field employment on the Earth’s surface of another world-wide body is inspire to say the least .
“ As a planetary geologist , one of my pet aspect of respect Earth from the unique vantage decimal point of the ISS is watch Earth from a planetary linear perspective , " Dr Watkins said .
" The power to visualize from orbit sites where I have done domain piece of work on the ground and liken in - situ ' reason truth ' observations with orbital observation sheds meaning light on how the two datasets can inform one another , both on Earth as well on other planetary surfaces where we rely hard on orbital data for insight into the geology . "
This is Watkins ’s first metre in space , but she is alsopart of the Artemis gang , the NASA astronauts that are anticipate to land back on the Moon in the next few years . The first uncrewed launch in the Artemis programme , Artemis I , is go on in just a few weeks .
“ We are so excited about NASA ’s upcoming Artemis missions , starting with Artemis launching later this month , " Watkins told IFLScience .
" Certainly for me , the scene of being a part of the crusade to conduct field oeuvre on the surface of another planetary dead body is inspiring to say the least , and to know that the work we are doing on our current mission on the ISS is helping to pave the style to the Moon ( and eventually to Mars ) is truly an pureness . "
Watkins can proudly add this raw platter to her already impressive résumé . The cosmonaut is also a former international rugby player and will be the first smutty char to complete a long - full term mission on the ISS . We look forward to watch her walk on the Moon , bringing her geological expertise to the close - up subject of our satellite .
