She’s very good-looking not that that matters ...and with a doctorate in Aerospace engineering she’s most certainly qualified. I hope if it is a health issue, the most likely problem, that it is not permanent or serious.
I wonder if it could also have to do with a skill needed for the slot due to the needs of the rest of the team. It may be the Russians made a change to their crew, or the mission objective/experiments to be done have changed, and they need someone on board with medical background rather than another engineer. I would think they would want a medical specialist on board at all times.
Could be anything really....at least they have a great replacement!
Agreed. I hope the fact that they said she will be considered for future missions means that it's not a permanent health issue, at least.
(along the same lines, I would also think that the fact that they said that means that this wasn't caused by some kind of behavioral problem, as some here have baselessly speculated)