Humanity’s reach into space is expanding, and NASA is actively seeking its next generation of explorers. The agency is preparing for ambitious missions to new space stations, the Moon, and even Mars, requiring a growing cadre of highly trained astronauts.
This Monday, NASA proudly unveiled ten new additions to its astronaut corps. These dedicated individuals will embark on rigorous training, with hopes of journeying across our solar system in the years to come. The new class includes:
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Ben Bailey, 38, Charlottesville, Va.
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Lauren Edgar, 40, Sammamish, Wa.
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Adam Fuhrmann, 35, Leesburg, Va.
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Cameron Jones, 35, Savanna, Il.
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Yuri Kubo, 40, Columbus, In.
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Rebecca Lawler, 38, Little Elm, Texas
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Anna Menon, 39, Houston
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Imelda Muller 34, Copake Falls, N.Y.
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Erin Overcash, 34, Goshen, Ky.
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Katherine Spies, 43, San Diego
Notably, Anna Menon, an engineer from SpaceX, has already experienced low-Earth orbit. She participated in the private Polaris Dawn mission last year, utilizing a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Alongside her crewmate Sarah Gillis, Ms. Menon holds the impressive record for the highest altitude ever achieved by a female astronaut. Her selection also marks a family tradition, as her husband, Anil, was part of the previous astronaut class in 2021.
This latest group is groundbreaking, comprising six women and four men—the first time women have formed the majority in a NASA astronaut class. This selection took place following Donald J. Trump’s return to the presidency in January, a period during which federal agencies, including NASA, scaled back many of their diversity initiatives.
These individuals are officially designated “astronaut candidates” and will undergo an intensive two-year training regimen before earning their full astronaut wings. Their training will involve practicing spacewalks in a specialized 60-foot-deep swimming pool at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, alongside learning to pilot NASA’s T-38 jet planes.
As Russia remains a key partner for NASA on the International Space Station, a crucial part of their curriculum will be learning to speak Russian.
Currently, the International Space Station serves as the most frequent destination for NASA astronauts.
However, NASA has its sights set much further, driven by the ambitious Artemis program. This initiative, first unveiled during the prior Trump administration, aims to return American astronauts to the lunar surface. The Artemis II mission, slated for early next year, will see four astronauts orbit the Moon without landing, a critical step before returning home.
This journey will mark the first time any astronauts venture beyond low-Earth orbit since the conclusion of the Apollo Moon landings in 1972.
The Artemis III mission, currently planned for 2027—though it’s anticipated to shift to 2028 or even later—intends to land two NASA astronauts in the Moon’s south polar region. While Mars presents an even more distant goal, initial crewed missions to the Red Planet are not expected until at least the 2030s.
Even after the International Space Station’s projected retirement in 2030, NASA astronauts will continue operating in low-Earth orbit, working aboard various commercial space stations currently in development. Furthermore, NASA is progressing with plans for Gateway, an orbital outpost around the Moon designed to serve as a crucial staging point for lunar surface expeditions.
NASA periodically opens applications for its astronaut program, typically every few years. This newly announced group represents the 24th class of astronauts, a lineage that began in 1959 with the original seven military pilots selected for Project Mercury.
The most recent application window for aspiring astronauts concluded about eighteen months ago, during the Biden administration. At that time, NASA actively encouraged a broad range of applicants, attracting approximately 8,000 hopefuls.
During the application period, April Jordan, then leading NASA’s selection process, and Victor Glover, an astronaut slated for the Artemis II mission, engaged in a media campaign highlighting NASA’s commitment to diversity within its astronaut ranks. Both Ms. Jordan and Mr. Glover are Black.
As Ms. Jordan stated at the time, “We want the group of astronaut candidates that we select to be reflective of the nation that they’re representing.”