and the first African-American selected to be a mission commander on the International Space Station (ISS). A native of Syracuse, New York, Epps holds engineering and science degrees and was a NASA Fellow during graduate school. She worked at the Central Intelligence Agency as a Technical Intelligence Officer before becoming an astronaut in 2009. Her training included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in ISS systems, space walk training, robotics, T-38 flight training, and wilderness survival training.

NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps (left)-the first African-American selected to be a mission commander on the International Space Station, with ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst at NASA JSC.

Credit: NASA