Exclusive interview: Astronaut shares her journey to space — and gets pranked by colleagues
Jeanette Epps living on International Space Station, working on research
Jeanette Epps living on International Space Station, working on research
Jeanette Epps living on International Space Station, working on research
Astronaut Jeanette Epps is living a dream very few get to see come true.
See the interview in the video player above
The University of Maryland alumna has been on the International Space Station since early March, helping with research for the future.
"We lifted off, and it was an amazing feeling," Epps told 11 News in an exclusive video conference interview. "It was truly exhilarating."
Epps comprises part of SpaceX's Crew-8 mission.
"When we docked, it was when the hatch opened, to see our colleagues to actually be here, it was surreal," Epps told 11 News.
It's a truly "out-of-this-world" experience. The research being done up there is furthering scientific discovery down here on Earth. One project is tracking how the immune system functions over time while in space.
"We can collect our own blood, we do our own blood draws, and then, we can process the blood here on orbit, and that is about a two- to three-day process to do," Epps told 11 News. "Being a part of these experiments where we're the hands and eyes for all the researchers on the ground is exciting."
Epps is already in an elite club of people who have traveled to space or have been on the International Space Station. Narrow that down to the number of Black women who have done so, and you'll find just a few.
Video below: NASA Black History Month Astronaut Profile - Jeanette Epps
"I do think that there's room for everyone, and we do need more representation. There's a lot of women that I know personally who can do this job and do it very well," Epps told 11 News. "My message to young women is I want to tell them about all the work that I did to earn a spot up here."
Astronauts on the ISS also know how to have fun. When 11 News asked whether the astronauts pull pranks on each other, they were ready for the question.
"The pranking environment is strong up here and kind of like, it is a beautiful environment to work with," Epps told 11 News, after being tackled in zero gravity.
Despite being 254 miles from Earth, Epps is keeping her family and connections to Maryland close.
"Maryland became my second home. I miss my family, I miss Maryland crabs big time — one of the blue crabs, one of my favorite dishes," Epps told 11 News. "The University of Maryland was so good to me, and they're still big supporters."
Epps is set to return to Earth sometime this month.
