A geologist, a former SpaceX launch director and a industrial astronaut; meet NASA’s 10 new astronaut candidates – Spaceflight Now

With its eyes on making a persistent human presence on the Moon and pushing nearer to crewed exploration of Mars, NASA introduced its latest class of astronaut candidates.

The assortment of ten men and women from throughout the United States had been chosen from greater than 8,000 purposes submitted. They signify the twenty fourth astronaut candidate (ASCAN) class picked by NASA.

“This selection was challenging, competitive and very difficult, but what we have for you here today is a group of individuals who are not only exceptional, but who will be inspirational for the United States of America and for our planet,” stated Norm Knight, Director of NASA’s Flight Operations Directorate.

One by one, the brand new astronaut candidates, donning blue flight fits, walked throughout a stage on the Teague Auditorium on the Johnson Space Center, greeted by a the applause of a full home full of household, mates, fellow astronauts and dignitaries. It was their first public occasion that marks the start of their two-year coaching.

In addition to those that spoke on stage, NASA performed a prerecorded message from the astronauts onboard the International Space Station who assist make up Expedition 73.

“We’re a close-knit group in the Astronaut Office and we’re thrilled to welcome you into the fold,” stated NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, who arrived on orbit again in April. “You can always count on us for support, but you should also lean on each other as a class too. The people sitting beside you right now will become more than colleagues. They’ll become lifelong friends.”

This new group of ASCANs, who shall be named at a later date by the twenty third astronaut class, ‘The Flies’, is the primary group of astronauts comprised of extra girls than males. It’s additionally the primary cohort since Astronaut Group 11 in 1985 that didn’t embody any African-American candidates.

Among the six girls on this group is Anna Menon, the primary astronaut candidate in historical past who has flown in orbital house previous to being chosen as a NASA astronaut. The SpaceX worker, who has been concerned with coaching astronauts on the corporate’s Dragon spacecraft, was a mission specialist and medical officer for the industrial, free-flying Polaris Dawn mission in September 2024.

Her husband, Anil Menon, was chosen as a member of The Flies, which had been named in 2021. They are simply the fourth married couple to concurrently function energetic members of NASA’s astronaut corps.

Another SpaceX alumnus who’s a part of this new class is Yuri Kubo. The 40-year-old from Columbus, Indiana spent 12 years at SpaceX the place he served because the director of avionics for the Starshield program and at one other level, as launch director for Falcon 9 rocket launches.

Lauren Edgar, 40, is not any stranger to NASA. Before her present position working on the U.S. Geological Survey, she was the deputy principal investigator for the Artemis 3 Geology Team, serving to to ascertain targets for future astronauts who will discover the lunar floor.

As has been the case with earlier instances, there are a number of navy pilots who are actually within the pipeline to grow to be astronauts. That contains Erin Overcash, 34, who’s a lieutenant commander within the U.S. Navy.

In extra to logging greater than 1,300 flight hour throughout 20 plane, Overcash additionally skilled alongside the USA Rugby Women’s National Team whereas she was a participant within the Navy’s World Class Athlete Program.

Fellow Navy pilot Rebecca Lawler, 38, amassed greater than 2,800 flight hours throughout 45 plane. Among her extra distinctive flight experiences, she flew as hurricane hunter for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

She was serving as a take a look at pilot for United Airlines when she bought the decision from NASA.

Other energetic service members chosen by NASA embody Ben Bailey, the 38-year-old chief warrant officer within the U.S. Army, and Adam Fuhrmann, at 35-year-old U.S. Air Force main, and Cameron Jones, the 35-year-old main within the U.S. Air Force. Bailey and Fuhrmann are each from Virginia whereas Jones crew up in Illinois.

Rounding out the group of ten are Imelda Muller, a 34-year-old former lieutenant within the U.S. Navy and resident within the anesthesiologist division at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and Katherine Spies, a 43-year-old U.S. Naval Test Pilot School graduate who was serving s the director of flight take a look at engineering at Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation when her identify was referred to as.