COLLEGE PARK, Md. — People in Maryland are keeping a close eye on the launch of NASA and SpaceX’s mission to the International Space Station. The launch for Crew 8 has been pushed back again, this time to Saturday night on March 2. One of the crew members — has local ties to the University of Maryland.
Jeanette Epps who attended the University of Maryland is known as a stellar student who worked in the School of Engineering.
Friends, professors, and colleagues are excited for Jeanette Epps and her mission to the International Space Station. She will be the second Black woman to be a part of a long-duration mission to the international space station…
“A professor is really glad when his or her student becomes bigger than them. They should excel,” said University of Maryland Aerospace Engineering Department professor and researcher, Dr. Nagaraj.
Nagaraj, a longtime professor and researcher at the University of Maryland, says it was no surprise when his former student Janette Epps was announced as a part of NASA’s Space X Crew.
“She is one of those people who is very, very, easy to get along with and what impresses students is her grace,” Nagaraj said.
Before Epps was an astronaut and aerospace engineer, she studied in College Park Maryland.
“She tried so many things and that’s when her inner spirit came out,” Nagaraj said. “She did not become discouraged, she’d asked what is the problem how do I solve it? That was her strength.”
Anyone in Glen Martin Hall during that time was very aware of her talents and hard work.
“By the time I arrived she was already established as one of our superstar Ph.D. students that we all looked up to,” former classmate and now UMD professor, Dr. Anubhav Datta said.
Even her classmates say she was ahead of her time when it came to technology. Epps was also a part of the rotor club with fellow classmates — like Dr. Datta.
“She gave us a thumbs up and said that was the future of aviation,” Datta said. “This was 25 years ago and today mars helicopters and hydrogen are probably the hottest topics.”
“I feel like we did a little mission rehearsal for her maybe, not in the same discipline but being able to deal with that kind of situation,” former CIA colleague, Dawn Meyerriecks said.
Her professor said that she still comes back to the university often to speak to other students and hopes to inspire them too.
As the countdown continues, all her former colleagues said they are ready to see this mission lift off.
“We’re completely excited. She’s worked so hard for this,” Meyerriecks said. “She just deserves it.”
Like former colleague who worked with the CIA, Dawn Meyerriecks who is rooting her on and hype while watching for the latest on this mission.
“Everybody’s kind of just cheering yes, go, go, go,” Meyerriecks said.
WUSA9 asked Meyerriecks what it means to watch Epps's story come full circle knowing her and her work ethic.
“I’m touched personally,” Meyerriecks said. “She is such an amazing person such a force of nature she inspired so many people.”
Epps continues to show students and colleagues that there is no limit.
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