Jessica Watkins is on her way to mark an out-of-this-world milestone.

Early Wednesday morning, Watkins made history as the first Black woman to hit the sky for an extended mission at the International Space Station.

Watkins who previously worked as a geologist after earning a bachelors degree from Stanford University and a doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles blasted off with three other astronauts from Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida to embark on a long-term space mission.