Likely a diversity pick with few qualifications.
Uncle, you might want to do an internet search on Ms. Epps.
She has a PHD in Aerospace Engineering. You do not get selected to be in the astronaut program unless are extremely intelligent and qualified. It is a very competitive program to get in.
I personally know an alternate(he did not get picked to go on the space shuttle) who still works for NASA in Houston at the Johnson Space Center. He is an Air Force Reserve Lt Colonel. He has two PHD’s and is a pilot. He was a bombardier in the Air Force.
I would guess that Ms. Epps has some physical impairment that is keeping her from making the trip.
Jeanette Epps was born in Syracuse, New York,[1] one of seven children born to Henry and Luberta (née Jackson) Epps, southerners who moved to Syracuse as part of the Great Migration.[4][5] She graduated from Corcoran High School in Syracuse and earned a bachelor in science from Le Moyne College and an M.S. and a Ph.D in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland.[1][6][7][8]
Career[edit]
After graduating, Epps worked in research at Ford Motor Company, then as a Technical Intelligence Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency.[6]. In June 2009 she was selected as an astronaut candidate, and [1] She qualified as an astronaut in 2011,[6] and subsequently served as an aquanaut aboard the Aquarius underwater laboratory during the NEEMO 18 undersea exploration mission for nine days from July 21, 2014. [9][10] On January 5, 2016 NASA announced that Epps was set to become the first African American space station crew member in May 2018, as a flight engineer on Expedition 56, remaining on board for Expedition 57,[11] however, on January 16, 2018 it was reported that Epps had been replaced on the crew of Expedition 56 by Serena M. Auñón-Chancellor. [12]