The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is actively expanding its astronaut corps, preparing for an ambitious future that includes new space stations, lunar missions, and eventually, human exploration of Mars.
This Monday, the agency proudly unveiled its ten newest astronaut candidates, individuals who aspire to embark on these monumental journeys in the years ahead:
- Ben Bailey, 38, Charlottesville, Va.
- Lauren Edgar, 40, Sammamish, Wa.
- Adam Fuhrmann, 35, Leesburg, Va.
- Cameron Jones, 35, Savanna, Il.
- Yuri Kubo, 40, Columbus, In.
- Rebecca Lawler, 38, Little Elm, Texas
- Anna Menon, 39, Houston
- Dr. Imelda Muller 34, Copake Falls, N.Y.
- Erin Overcash, 34, Goshen, Ky.
- Katherine Spies, 43, San Diego
Among the accomplished new recruits is Anna Menon, an engineer from SpaceX, who previously journeyed to low-Earth orbit aboard the private Polaris Dawn mission last year, utilizing a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Alongside her crewmate Sarah Gillis, Ms. Menon holds an impressive record for the highest altitude achieved by any female astronaut. Her selection also marks a unique family legacy, as her husband, Anil, was part of the preceding astronaut class selected in 2021.
During the announcement ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on Monday, acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy shared an inspiring vision: “One of these ten individuals could very well be among the first Americans to step foot on the surface of Mars, which is an incredibly exciting prospect.”
Notably, this class of astronaut candidates includes six women, marking a historic first where women constitute the majority of new selections.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas acknowledged this significant shift, emphasizing his pride as a father to two teenage daughters.
“I am especially proud of all the women present today,” Senator Cruz stated, “and the groundbreaking reality that through the Artemis program, America is poised to land the first woman on the moon in human history.”
A strong military background is evident in this class, with seven out of ten candidates having served, including four of the six women. Three of the new astronauts bring prior NASA experience. For instance, Ms. Overcash, a Navy pilot, has also trained with the U.S. women’s rugby team, while Mr. Kubo, an engineer specializing in hydrogen energy, was a professional ultimate Frisbee player in Indianapolis.
Dr. Imelda Muller, an anesthesiologist and former Navy lieutenant, explained her path to NASA, noting that her involvement in diving medicine eventually led her to work at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory—a massive underwater facility where astronauts practice spacewalks.
She remarked, “Everything I cherished about diving seamlessly transferred to the realm of space. I felt a profound sense of belonging there, which ultimately motivated me to apply.”
This was not her first attempt; by the time she received an invitation for a second round of interviews, the dream of becoming an astronaut began to feel genuinely within reach.
In an amusing turn of events, she missed the crucial call from Joe Acaba, the head of NASA’s astronaut office, as she was engrossed in studying for her medical board exam. She recalled, “By the time I realized I had missed the call, it was already one or two in the morning.”
Upon calling him back the next morning, Dr. Muller received the exciting news. She recounted, “The most memorable part was when he asked if I still wanted the job. At that moment, it’s hard to imagine anyone saying no.”
These individuals are officially designated “astronaut candidates,” embarking on a two-year intensive training period before they can graduate as fully qualified astronauts. Their training regimen includes mastering NASA’s T-38 jet planes and, due to Russia’s key partnership in the International Space Station, they will also undertake Russian language instruction.
Currently, the most frequent assignment for NASA astronauts involves extended stays aboard the International Space Station.
However, NASA’s ambitions stretch much further with the Artemis program, initially unveiled during the first Trump administration, which 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, before safely returning to Earth.
This mission will mark the first time humans travel beyond low-Earth orbit since the conclusion of the Apollo moon landings in 1972.
Artemis III, planned for 2027 (though likely to be postponed to 2028 or beyond), intends to land two NASA astronauts in the moon’s south polar region. Beyond that, Mars looms as an even more distant objective, with initial missions anticipated no earlier than the 2030s.
Even with the projected retirement of the International Space Station in 2030, NASA astronauts will maintain a presence in low-Earth orbit, transitioning to new commercial space stations presently under development. Furthermore, NASA envisions Gateway, an orbital outpost around the moon, which will serve as a critical staging point for future lunar surface missions.
NASA historically opens applications for its astronaut program every few years. The very first group, selected in 1959, comprised seven military pilots for Project Mercury. This latest cohort represents NASA’s 24th class of astronauts.
This selection occurred after Donald J. Trump’s return to the presidency in January, a period during which the federal government, including NASA, scaled back many of its diversity initiatives.
The application window for this astronaut class opened approximately a year and a half prior, during the Biden administration. At that time, NASA actively encouraged a broad range of applicants, attracting over 8,000 hopefuls.
During that 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 the diverse backgrounds within NASA’s astronaut corps. Both Ms. Jordan and Mr. Glover are Black individuals.
In a conversation with The New York Times last year, Mr. Glover emphasized the rich diversity of experiences among existing astronauts. He noted that the proportion of Black astronauts surpassed the representation of Black individuals in the wider science and technology workforce.
Mr. Glover articulated, “Our office reflects its current composition due to deliberate efforts and a conscious examination of our biases, and how they might influence our hiring decisions. I consider that a significant achievement.”
Despite previous efforts, the newly selected group appears to exhibit less racial diversity compared to some earlier astronaut classes.
“One simply needs to observe the photograph,” commented Garrett Reisman, a former NASA astronaut, who nonetheless found it “very encouraging” that women comprised a majority of the new class.
A NASA spokesperson clarified that while Mr. Kubo’s father is Japanese, information regarding the racial and ethnic backgrounds of the other astronaut candidates was not available.
Although Dr. Reisman was not involved in the current selection cycle, having participated in prior processes, he noted that the top 100-plus candidates were consistently exceptionally qualified. He added that, in previous selections, racial and ethnic diversity had been a factor in making the ultimate choices.
Dr. Reisman concluded by stating, “One of our most powerful abilities is to inspire a young child to believe that becoming an astronaut is within their reach. I believe that crucial aspect of our mission becomes more challenging if we lack representatives from all American communities.”