General Discussion

malaise

(269,283 posts) Tue Jan 23, 2018, 04:37 PM Jan 2018

NASA pulled this astronaut from a space station crew. Her brother blames racism

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/01/22/nasa-pulled-this-astronaut-from-a-space-station-crew-her-brother-blames-racism/?utm_term=.26c234b41224
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NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps, who was slated to become the first black crew member to live on board the International Space Station, was unexpectedly pulled from her June flight.

In a brief news release Thursday, NASA announced that Serena Auñón-Chancellor, a fellow member of Epps's astronaut class who was scheduled to launch later in the year, would be bumped up to take Epps's place. Epps, who had already started training for her role on Expedition 56-57, will return to Johnson Space Center in Houston, where she will be a candidate for future crews.

NASA did not give an explanation for the crew change. But Epps's brother blamed racism at the space agency.

“My sister Dr. Jeannette Epps has been fighting against oppressive racism and misogynist in NASA and now they are holding her back and allowing a Caucasian Astronaut to take her place!” Henry Epps wrote in a Facebook post Saturday. (The post has since been removed.) He linked to a MoveOn.org petition asking NASA to reinstate Epps.
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Hmmmmmmmmmmmm!

11 replies

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Highlight:

NASA pulled this astronaut from a space station crew. Her brother blames racism (Original Post) malaise Jan 2018 OP

I blame her CIA past zipplewrath Jan 2018 #1

She already trained there malaise Jan 2018 #2

would be handy to see the proof leading to the accusation nt msongs Jan 2018 #3

Agreed - her brother's accusation is not enough malaise Jan 2018 #5

The replacement is not a Caucasian astronaut, as Mr Epps states. edbermac Jan 2018 #4

We'd all like more proof malaise Jan 2018 #6

There have been 21 African-American astronauts left-of-center2012 Jan 2018 #7

Then why did they assign her in the first place? B2G Jan 2018 #8

Not everything today is a conspiracy. left-of-center2012 Jan 2018 #9

"Unexpectedly pulled" could mean a lot of things bluecollar2 Jan 2018 #10

Mission comes first. Flight crews get grounded or pulled unexpectedly not infrequently. Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #11

zipplewrath

(16,646 posts)

1. I blame her CIA past

Reply to malaise (Original post)

Tue Jan 23, 2018, 04:39 PM

Jan 2018

She was going to have to train in Russia. They probably weren't thrilled about that prospect.

malaise

(269,283 posts)

2. She already trained there

Reply to zipplewrath (Reply #1)

Tue Jan 23, 2018, 04:42 PM

Jan 2018

Epps said that she did not have a medical condition or family problem that would have prevented her from participating in the mission and that her overseas training in Russia and Kazakhstan had been successful.

msongs

(67,496 posts)

3. would be handy to see the proof leading to the accusation nt

Reply to malaise (Original post)

Tue Jan 23, 2018, 05:12 PM

Jan 2018

malaise

(269,283 posts)

5. Agreed - her brother's accusation is not enough

Reply to msongs (Reply #3)

Tue Jan 23, 2018, 05:13 PM

Jan 2018

but with this administration anything is possible

edbermac

(15,951 posts)

4. The replacement is not a Caucasian astronaut, as Mr Epps states.

Reply to malaise (Original post)

Tue Jan 23, 2018, 05:13 PM

Jan 2018

Serena Auñón-Chancellor is Hispanic. And several astronauts in the history of NASA were reassigned due to medical, training or personality issues.

Ken Mattingly was yanked from Apollo 13 a few days before launch after being exposed to the measles virus.

Al Shepard(who was grounded due to an inner ear condition)wanted to command Apollo 13 but he was rejected as NASA felt he needed more training.

Gordon Cooper was due to be rotated into Apollo 13 but astro chief Deke Slayton(who was himself grounded due to a heart fibrillation)felt he was too casual in regard to training and dropped.

Joe Engle was dropped as LM pilot on Apollo 17 and replaced by Jack Schmitt, who was a professional geologist, for the final moon mission.

If it’s a racism issue, I’d like to see some proof.

malaise

(269,283 posts)

6. We'd all like more proof

Reply to edbermac (Reply #4)

Tue Jan 23, 2018, 05:14 PM

Jan 2018

but Hispanic does not always mean non-white - there are many white Hispanics.

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)

7. There have been 21 African-American astronauts

Reply to malaise (Original post)

Tue Jan 23, 2018, 05:22 PM

Jan 2018

People need to look into the facts before screaming "Racism".

Here's a list of 14 male and female African-American astronauts who went into space

And seven more male and female African-American astronauts who did not go into space.

That's 21 male and female African-American astronauts.

So looks like astronaut Jeanette Epps was not pulled for racist (or sexist) reasons.

B2G

(9,766 posts)

8. Then why did they assign her in the first place?

Reply to malaise (Original post)

Tue Jan 23, 2018, 05:22 PM

Jan 2018

More to this.

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)

9. Not everything today is a conspiracy.

Reply to malaise (Original post)

Tue Jan 23, 2018, 05:28 PM

Jan 2018

Just sayin'

bluecollar2

(3,622 posts)

10. "Unexpectedly pulled" could mean a lot of things

Reply to malaise (Original post)

Tue Jan 23, 2018, 05:59 PM

Jan 2018

Other than racial bias.

Personality conflicts, etiquette issues, failure to follow certain protocols...

Racism seems a little stretched for me.

But then what do I know?

Irish_Dem

(47,890 posts)

11. Mission comes first. Flight crews get grounded or pulled unexpectedly not infrequently.

Reply to malaise (Original post)

Tue Jan 23, 2018, 06:20 PM

Jan 2018

For minor or serious issues, usually not serious.
Can be done by CO or Flight Surgeon.

The mission comes first and anything big or small that may pose a threat
to the mission or other crew has to go. There is not a lot of room for error
when you are basically in a tin bucket up in the sky.

If she has been a victim of racism then she needs to take some action.
But I don't think her brother mouthing off in the press is going to help her
NASA career.

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