http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

April 2022

Jessica U. Meir 

(Ph.D.) NASA Astronaut

Summary:

Jessica U. Meir, a first generation American born to Israeli and Swedish immigrants, was selected by NASA in 2013. She 

holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Brown University, a Master of Science in Space Studies from the International 

Space University, and a Doctorate in Marine Biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UCSD). From 2000 to 

2003, Dr. Meir worked for Lockheed Martin’s Human Research Facility, supporting human physiology research. During 

this time, she also participated in research flights on NASA’s reduced gravity aircraft and served as an aquanaut in an

underwater habitat for NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO). Prior to becoming an astronaut, her 

career as a scientist focused on the physiology of animals in extreme environments. Meir most recently served as flight 

engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 61 and 62.

Personal Data:

First generation American born to Israeli and Swedish immigrants. Raised in Caribou, Maine. Recreational interests 

include skiing, hiking, running, cycling, soccer and SCUBA diving. She is a private pilot and is conversational in Swedish

and Russian.

Education:

Graduated from Caribou High School, Caribou, Maine. Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Brown 

University in 1999. Earned a Master of Science degree in Space Studies from International Space University in 2000. 

Earned a Doctorate in Marine Biology (diving physiology) from Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UCSD) in 2009.

Experience:

For her Ph.D. research, Dr. Meir studied the diving physiology of marine mammals and birds, focusing on oxygen 

depletion in diving emperor penguins (Antarctic field research) and elephant seals (northern California). She 

investigated the high-flying bar-headed goose during her post-doctoral research at the University of British Columbia, 

training geese to fly in a wind tunnel while obtaining various physiological measurements in reduced oxygen conditions. 

In 2012, Dr. Meir accepted a position as Assistant Professor at the Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General 

Hospital, where she continued her research on the physiology of animals in extreme environments. She also took part in 

Smithsonian Institution diving expeditions to the Antarctic and Belize, and has been very active with scientific outreach 

efforts.

NASA Experience:

From 2000 to 2003, Dr. Meir worked for Lockheed Martin’s Human Research Facility (NASA Johnson Space Center), 

supporting human physiology research on the space shuttle and International Space Station. During this time, she also 

participated in research flights on NASA’s reduced gravity aircraft and served as an aquanaut crew member in the 

Aquarius underwater habitat for the 4th NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) mission. Dr. Meir 

was selected in June 2013 as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class. Her Astronaut Candidate Training 
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

Jessica U. Meir

included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, spacewalks, 

robotics, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training. 

In the astronaut office, Meir has extensive Mission Control Capsule Communicator (CapCom) experience, including 

serving as Lead CapCom for Expedition 47, the BEAM (Bigelow expandable module on the International Space Station) 

mission, and an HTV (Japanese Space Agency cargo vehicle) mission. She was also the ground IV (mission control 

communicator to spacewalking astronauts) for two space station spacewalks. In 2016, Meir served as a crew member 

on the European Space Agency (ESA) CAVES space analog caving mission in Sardinia, Italy. Since returning from space, 

Meir has served as the Assistant to the Chief Astronaut for Commercial Crew (SpaceX) and as Deputy for the Flight 

Integration Division.

Spaceflight Experience:

Expedition 61 and 62 (September 25, 2019 through April 17, 2020). The crew launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome

aboard the Soyuz spacecraft. Meir, who served as Flight Engineer, was also joined by Soyuz Commander Oleg 

Skripochka of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, and Hazzaa AlMansoori, the first astronaut from the United Arab 

Emirates. During her first spaceflight, Meir conducted the first three all-woman spacewalks with crewmate Christina 

Koch of NASA, totaling 21 hours and 44 minutes. The crew contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, Earth 

science, human research, physical sciences and technology development. Among the investigations to which she 

contributed is a study co-led by a former colleague of hers, examining how human heart tissue functions in space. She 

spent 205 days in space, 3,280 orbits of Earth and a trip of 86.9 million miles.

Awards/Honors:

Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2020; Maine Women’s Hall of Fame (2022); UCSD Outstanding Alumni 

Award (2021); Honorary degrees (2020/2021) - Brown University doctorate (Rhode Island), Bowdoin College (Maine), 

Luleå University of Technology doctorate (Sweden); Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation 

Alumni Hall of Fame (2020); Guinness World Records: first all-female spacewalk (18 Oct 2020); American Physiological 

Society Early Career Advocacy Science Policy Fellowship (2013); National Science Foundation International Research 

Post-doctoral Fellowship (2009); Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) Scholar Award (2008); Achievement 

Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Fellowship (2006); Department of Defense National Defense Science and 

Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship (2003); Lockheed Martin Space Operations (LMSO) Special Recognition Award 

(2002); LMSO Employee of the Month (2002); NASA JSC Space and Life Sciences Directorate Special Professional 

Achievement Award (2002); Lockheed Martin Technology Services “Lightning Award” (2002).

Organizations: 

American Physiological Society, Society for Experimental Biology, Canadian Society of Zoologists, Society for Integrative 

and Comparative Biology, Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation.