"Syracuse Native Jeanette Epps Set for Historic Space Mission"
Syracuse native and NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps, set to fly into space next month, will carry a special photo of her late mother on board. Epps, who overcame personal tragedy after her mother's passing shortly after her selection as an astronaut, has persevered through a career in physics, aerospace engineering, and roles at Ford Motor Company and the CIA before joining NASA in 2009. Originally scheduled for a 2018 mission to the International Space Station, Epps was later reassigned to the upcoming SpaceX flight to the ISS, demonstrating her resilience and dedication to her goal of space exploration.