Jeanette Epps, Syracuse native, headed to space

NASA has assigned Jeanette Epps, a Syracuse native, to travel into space.

Epps is among four crewmembers assigned Friday to a long-duration stay at the International Space Station.

This will be Epps’s first trip to the space station.

In 2018, Epps was set to become the first African American crew member to live at the space station. Before that could happen, NASA reassigned her to other duties.

Epps was born in Syracuse and attended Clary Middle School. She graduated from Corcoran High School in 1988 and went on to 11 1/2 more years of schooling, beginning at Le Moyne College. She graduated with a degree in physics in 1992. She eventually earned her doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland.

She was part of NASA 20th astronaut class, announced in 2009. She was one of nine selected out of 3,500 applicants. Before that, she spent seven years as a technical intelligence officer with the Central Intelligence Agency.

Watchdog/Public Affairs reporter Melissa Newcomb covers education, including Syracuse University and the city schools. For tips, contact her anytime at [email protected], 315-679-1068, or @melissarnewcomb on Twitter.