The Space Between: How Lacrosse Shaped Astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli

Jasmin Moghbeli can spare just 15 minutes. Precision matters at NASA. She finishes the interview in 13, or t-minus two.

During that time, she summarizes growing up dreaming of becoming an astronaut, her unlikely college lacrosse career as a four-year starting defensive midfielder and backup goalie at MIT, celebrating her mixed heritage and raising twins in the shadow of Johnson Space Center and ultimately living out her space exploration dreams.

Moghbeli, 43, was born in West Germany to parents who fled Iran in the wake of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The family emigrated to Long Island several months after her birth. She grew up playing basketball and volleyball, but as a senior at Baldwin High School she picked up lacrosse. She played all three sports at MIT.

After graduation, Moghbeli flew Marine combat missions, tested helicopters and then became a member of NASA’s Artemis program. Moghbeli served as commander of the SpaceX Crew-7 mission when it launched to the International Space Station for 199 days on Aug. 26, 2023.

What do your twins think of having an astronaut for a mom?

They’ve grown up around NASA and Johnson Space Center, so to them it’s just normal. It’s normal to see a rocket launch. They’ve known how to count down. They count backwards, not forwards.

How did you get interested in space exploration?

In sixth grade, we had to do a book report on someone. I did mine on Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, a cosmonaut. I dressed up like her in school. From that moment, I remember distinctly always saying I want to be an astronaut.

How have lessons from lacrosse stayed with you in your career?

Everything I did in the Marine Corps, everything I’ve done here at NASA, none of those things are achievable by individuals. They all require many people working together. Also leadership. I got to be one of the captains on the team my senior year. That was one of the first times I had a role where I was leading peers. That was a really formative experience.

How did you get your nickname, “Jaws?”

In Marine Corps aviation, you get a call sign often from some funny story or something that’s happened. I got mine on my rookie deployment to Afghanistan. It had to do with something with my jaw. It was good enough to get a cool call sign out of it. But the story itself, not as cool.

What was it like living in the space station for six months?

It was amazing. I wanted to come home and see my friends and family, but I was sad to leave. I loved it up there. The view of Earth, it’s just constantly changing every time you look out the window. You just got a real sense of the Earth as this living, breathing thing. As the weather changed, the sun angle, the clouds, stuff like that. And then floating, I never got tired of floating. I kind of felt like a superhero.

How did you feel watching the Artemis II launch?

It’s just this overwhelming sense of pride when they launch, but also you’re just happy at each milestone they make and then splashdown. Launch is a big deal, but splashdown is an even bigger deal. Our friends are back home safe.

What’s next for you in space exploration?

I’ve told the office I’m ready to fly any mission anywhere on any vehicle, so they know I’m ready to go. This has been my dream from childhood. I’d love to be on an Artemis mission. I’m happy to do any mission, but I don’t know yet what’s next.