Dr. Jeanette Epps will be the first African-American to go to the International Space Station.
NASA revealed their most recent ISS crew, which included Epps as well as veteran astronaut Andrew Feustel.
“Each space station crew brings something different to the table, and Drew and Jeanette both have a lot to offer,” said Chris Cassidy, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “The space station will benefit from having them on board.”
Though African-American researchers have participated in space shuttle missions, Dr. Epps will be the first black astronaut to go to the ISS.
Epps earned her PhD. in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland. She was a NASA Fellow in graduate school and was one of 14 members of the 20th NASA astronaut class in July 2009.
She received training in Russian, spacewalking, robotics, T-38 jet training, geology, and participated in the National Outdoor Leadership School as part of her Astronaut Candidate Training.
Epps will serve as a Flight Engineer for Expedition 56 and will remain on board for Expedition 57, which is scheduled to launch in May 2018.
