After planning, schedule changes and delays, a six-month trip to space seems closer to reality for Syracuse native Jeanette Epps.

The astronaut will blast off with the SpaceX Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station on Saturday night. The launch was originally scheduled for Feb. 22, but has been delayed due to weather concerns.

Epps, a Corcoran High School and Le Moyne graduate, has been an astronaut with NASA since 2009. She worked for Ford Motor Company, then the CIA.

“Jeanette and her sister Janet were both very talented students,” said Le Moyne physics professor emeritus Carmen Giunta. “Janet was a chemistry major; I had her in my physical chemistry class my first year there and Jeanette took the same class the following year as an elective. Not exactly an easy elective course.

“So, they both did exceptionally well in my class, and I've been following Jeanette’s career from afar since she became an astronaut. We're very proud of that.”

The targeted launch time Saturday is no earlier than around 11:16 p.m., and it will be broadcast live on the SpaceX website. During its time on the ISS, Epps' crew will conduct  more than 200 scientific experiments and technology demonstrations.

“Any launch is a great launch if you have a mission. Even if you’re the last, it doesn’t matter,” Epps said. “You get that launch. You get the mission, and you go. And you know, they always save the best for last.”