In an inspiring virtual meeting, Dr. Chance Glenn, Sr., a professor of electrical engineering at Alabama A&M University, and four students had the unique opportunity to interview NASA astronaut Dr. Jeanette J. Epps. Epps has spent over seven months aboard the International Space Station. Their conversation provided a firsthand glimpse into life in space, highlighting Epps’s work on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission.
Since her launch on March 3, 2024, aboard SpaceX Dragon from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Dr. Epps has been engaged in scientific experiments and technology demonstrations essential to advancing space exploration.
Glenn, who recently returned to AAMU from a sabbatical as provost at the University of Houston-Victoria, is leveraging Huntsville’s robust space industry to conduct research in space engineering and technology. He expressed enthusiasm about returning to direct engagement in science and engineering. “While I was an academic administrator, my ability to engage deeply in science and engineering was limited,” he said. “Now, as a faculty member, I can both lead high-level research and guide students in the growing field of space engineering and technology.”
A Conversation With Faculty and Students
Joining Glenn were engineering students Maya Bragg, Danylah Branch, Jaila Brooks, and Keith Rivers. Dr. Clyde Varner, an AAMU chemistry professor leading research on space travel fuel, also joined the call. Epps provided a virtual tour of the ISS and offered views of Earth as it orbited every 90 minutes. “Dr. Epps shared insights into her duties, ranging from conducting sensitive scientific experiments to managing everyday tasks like cleaning,” Glenn noted.
Epps also shared insights into the challenges of long-term space travel. She discussed how astronauts maintain their health in microgravity and demonstrating her unique sleeping arrangements to avoid floating away.
The exchange proved to be a source of inspiration for both Glenn and his students. “Dr. Epps is an extraordinary individual, and her visit has energized us all. She has expressed interest in visiting Alabama A&M and becoming involved in our program,” he said. Crew-8 members are scheduled to return to Earth Tuesday, with a splashdown anticipated in either the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico.
