Humanity’s ambitions in space are growing, and NASA is actively seeking out the next generation of explorers. With plans for new space stations, lunar landings, and even eventual missions to Mars, the need for skilled astronauts is more critical than ever.
This Monday, the agency proudly introduced its ten newest astronaut candidates, who are eager to embark on these monumental journeys in the years ahead. Here they are:
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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, among this group is Anna Menon, a SpaceX engineer who has already experienced low-Earth orbit as part of last year’s private Polaris Dawn mission aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Alongside her crewmate Sarah Gillis, Ms. Menon holds an impressive record for the highest altitude ever achieved by a female astronaut. Adding to her unique story, her husband, Anil, was part of NASA’s previous astronaut class selected in 2021.
This new class makes history with six women and four men, marking the first time women comprise the majority. Their selection comes after former President Donald J. Trump’s return to office in January, which saw the federal government, including NASA, largely roll back diversity initiatives.
These individuals are officially designated as “astronaut candidates” and will undergo a rigorous two-year training period to become certified astronauts. Their intensive program includes practicing spacewalks in a 60-foot-deep simulated environment at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, along with mastering flight in NASA’s T-38 jet planes.
As Russia remains a key partner for NASA on the International Space Station, a crucial part of their training will also involve learning to speak Russian.
While a tour on the International Space Station is currently the most common assignment for NASA astronauts, the future holds much more.
NASA’s ambitions are expanding with the Artemis program, initially unveiled during the first Trump administration, aiming to bring American astronauts back to the Moon. The upcoming Artemis II mission, set for early next year, will see four astronauts journey around the Moon before returning to Earth, without a lunar landing.
This historic flight will mark the first time any astronauts venture beyond low-Earth orbit since the conclusion of the Apollo Moon landings in 1972.
Following this, Artemis III, although likely to be delayed from its current 2027 target to 2028 or beyond, is planned to deploy two NASA astronauts to the Moon’s south polar region. Even grander goals include missions to Mars, though these are not anticipated to commence until at least the 2030s.
Even after the projected retirement of the International Space Station in 2030, NASA astronauts will remain active in low-Earth orbit, transitioning to new commercial space stations currently being developed. Additionally, NASA is designing Gateway, an orbiting lunar outpost intended to serve as a crucial staging point for missions to the Moon’s surface.
NASA generally opens its astronaut application process every few years. This marks the 24th group of astronauts chosen by the agency, a tradition that began in 1959 with Project Mercury’s pioneering seven military pilots.
The most recent call for astronaut applications was issued roughly a year and a half ago, during the Biden administration. At that time, NASA made a concerted effort to attract a diverse pool of applicants, receiving approximately 8,000 submissions.
During that period, April Jordan, then NASA’s selection process lead, and Victor Glover, an astronaut slated for Artemis II, actively engaged in a media campaign to highlight the importance of diversity within NASA’s astronaut corps. Both Ms. Jordan and Mr. Glover are Black.
As Ms. Jordan explained to The New York Times, “We want the group of astronaut candidates that we select to be reflective of the nation that they’re representing.”