Jeanette Epps would have been the first black astronaut to live on the Space Station, but NASA bumped her, and she says they never told her why

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Jeanette Epps was about to become the first African American to live at the International Space Station.

But NASA announced in January it was replacing her with another astronaut. Epps said this week that she still doesn't know why.

Appearing at a conference, Epps said she didn't want to speculate that the decision was racist or sexist, an accusation many critics made after the announcement.

Jeanette Epps was preparing for a historic launch to the International Space Station in January when NASA suddenly pulled her off the mission without warning.

Epps is still waiting for an explanation, the Houston Chronicle reported.See the rest of the story at Business InsiderNOW WATCH: What would happen if humans tried to land on JupiterSee Also:This veteran NASA astronaut has tried SpaceX and Boeing's new spaceships and spacesuits here's what she thinksOver a million space rocks could strike Earth with more energy than a nuclear bomb, and we don't know where most of them areAstronaut Mark Kelly says Trump's order to create a Space Force 'is a dumb idea'SEE ALSO: This veteran NASA astronaut has tried SpaceX and Boeing's new spaceships and spacesuits here's what she thinks

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