Technischer Aufklärungs-Offizier bei der Central Intelligence Agency; Bachelor of Science in Physics vom Le Moyne College, 1992; Doktortitel in Aerospace
Engineering von der University of Maryland, 2000; Hobbies: Arbeit mit Kindern jeden Alters um ihnen Wissenschaft und Technik näher zu bringen, reisen, lesen.
Epps earned her bachelor′s in physics in 1992 at LeMoyne College in her hometown of Syracuse, New York, prior to completing both her master′s in
science and a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland in 1994 and 2000, respectively.
She then joined the Ford Motor Company, working in their scientific research lab as a technical specialist on reducing vehicle vibrations and collision countermeasures. Her work resulted in her being granted two patents.
In 2002, she joined the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where she worked as a technical intelligence officer before NASA chose her with its 20th astronaut class, achieving a lifelong dream.
Epps, 47, was chosen by NASA to train as an astronaut in 2009. In January 2017, the space agency announced that Epps would become the first African American
station crew member, launching with two other crewmates on Russia′s Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft. Once on the space station, Epps would serve as a flight engineer on
Expedition 56 and Expedition 57 crews.
January 18, 2018— A NASA astronaut who was slated to become the first African American to serve as a member of the crew aboard the International Space Station
has been removed from her upcoming mission.
Jeanette Epps, who had been scheduled to launch to the space station in June for a five-month expedition has been replaced on the flight by another NASA astronaut,
Serena Auñón-Chancellor, who was serving as Epps' backup.
NASA announced the crew change on Thursday (Jan. 18), stating that Epps will assume duties in the Astronaut Office at Johnson Space Center in Houston, and "be
considered for assignment to future missions."