The SpaceX Crew-8 mission returned to Earth on October 25, 2024, after spending 235 days in low-Earth orbit. This mission, which utilized the Crew Dragon Endeavour, marked a significant milestone for Jeanette J. Epps, who served as a mission specialist and concluded a long-duration stay on the International Space Station before retiring from NASA in 2025.
Academic and Research Foundation
Born in 1970 in Syracuse, New York, Epps excelled in science and mathematics during her formative years. After graduating from Corcoran High School, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Le Moyne College. She continued her education at the University of Maryland, completing both her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in aerospace engineering. During her doctoral studies, she received a NASA GSRP Fellowship and focused on materials engineering, specifically investigating shape memory alloys and the vibration control of helicopter rotor blades.
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Before joining the astronaut corps, Epps held technical positions in private industry and government. At Ford Motor Company, her research on magnetostrictive actuators led to a provisional patent for reducing automotive suspension vibrations and a secondary patent for frontal collision detection technology. Subsequently, she spent seven years at the Central Intelligence Agency as a Technical Intelligence Officer, an assignment that included deployments to Iraq.
NASA Career and Specialized Training
Selected in 2009 for the 20th class of NASA astronauts, Epps attained qualification in 2011. Her preparation for spaceflight was diverse, encompassing T-38 jet operations, robotics, geology, and survival training in Star City, Russia. She also served as an aquanaut during the NEEMO 18 mission in 2014, living in the Aquarius underwater laboratory for nine days. She was the second woman and the first African-American woman to participate in the CAVES exploration program, which simulates planetary surface conditions.
Mission Operations and Space Flight
Although initially assigned to ISS Expeditions 56 and 57 in 2017, Epps was removed from the rotation in early 2018. She was later designated for the Boeing Starliner-1 mission, but persistent delays led her to cross-train on the SpaceX Crew Dragon. Her eventual flight on SpaceX Crew-8 established her as the second African-American woman to complete a long-duration mission on the ISS. The mission set a record for the longest duration an American crewed spacecraft has spent in space.
Fast facts
- Born: 1970, Syracuse, New York
- Education: Le Moyne College; University of Maryland
- NASA Career Length: 16 years
- SpaceX Crew-8 Launch Date: March 4, 2024
- SpaceX Crew-8 Return Date: October 25, 2024
- NASA Astronaut Class: 20th (2009)
- Retirement: June 2025
Questions readers ask
What was Epps' role at the CIA?
She served as a Technical Intelligence Officer for seven years, a tenure that included deployments to Iraq.
Why was the SpaceX Crew-8 mission longer than planned?
The mission was extended due to a launch delay for Crew-9, additional maintenance tasks on the Crew Dragon, and unfavorable weather conditions at the landing site.
Achievements
- Affiliated with Central Intelligence Agency and National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at Le Moyne College and Corcoran High School
- Worked as astronaut, engineer and military flight engineer
