Photo: CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP / Getty Images
Syracuse native and NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps has retired after nearly 16 years with the space agency. Epps, who was selected as a member of NASA’s 20th astronaut class in 2009, most recently served as a mission specialist during NASA's SpaceX Crew-Eight mission. She spent a total of 235 days in space, including 232 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where she worked on hundreds of scientific experiments during Expeditions 71 and 72.
Epps holds a bachelor's degree in physics from Le Moyne College in Syracuse and master's and doctorate degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland. During her time at NASA, she also served as a lead capsule communicator in NASA’s Mission Control Center and participated in NEEMO (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operation) off the coast of Florida.
Steve Koerner, acting director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, praised Epps' contributions, stating, "Jeanette’s tenacity and dedication to mission excellence is admirable." Joe Acaba, NASA’s chief astronaut, added, "We will miss her greatly, but I know she’s going to continue to do great things."
Epps' journey has been an inspiration to many, including students at Corcoran High School in Syracuse, whom she visited in April to share her experiences in space. Her work has left a lasting impact on human space exploration and continues to inspire future generations of explorers.