Workers on scaffolding paint the NASA logo near the top of the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, on May 20, 2020. AP Photo
NASA announced its newest group of astronauts on Monday, selecting 10 scientists, engineers, and test pilots from over 8,000 applicants. This team will play key roles in upcoming missions to the moon and possibly Mars.
A Historic Class
For the first time, this astronaut group has more women than men. Among them is a geologist who worked on the Mars Curiosity rover and a SpaceX engineer who has already flown to space on a private mission last year. The class includes six women and four men who will undergo two years of training before they can take part in spaceflights.
Sean Duffy, NASA’s Acting Administrator, said one of these new astronauts might be among the first to walk on Mars. He also emphasized the United States’ goal to win the new race to return astronauts to the moon. “You are America’s best and brightest, and we’re going to need America’s best and brightest because we have a bold exploration plan for the future,” he said during the ceremony at Johnson Space Center in Houston. “Some are challenging our leadership in space, say like the Chinese … We are going to win.”
Joining a Small, Elite Group
This is NASA’s 24th astronaut class since the original Mercury Seven in 1959. The last class joined in 2021. Since NASA began selecting astronauts, only 370 people have earned this title, making it a very exclusive group mostly made up of men. These new astronauts will join 41 active members currently working in the program.
Norm Knight, NASA’s flight operations director, called the new astronauts “distinguished” and “exceptional.” The group includes military pilots, a former SpaceX launch director, and a medical doctor.
Personal Reactions to the Big News
Air Force Major Adam Fuhrmann said he got the call while stuck in rush-hour traffic. “I took the first exit and pulled into a parking lot just to make sure I was hearing right,” he said. Another Air Force pilot, Major Cameron Jones, learned about his selection while settling into a new empty home after moving across the country.
Navy Lieutenant Commander Erin Overcash found out while relaxing at home. “No way. I mean, I mean, yes, of course. But like no way,” she said. Her experience living on a ship with 5,000 people will help her handle space missions, she added.
Familiar Faces and New Experiences
Anna Menon already has experience in space. She flew last September on a SpaceX mission sponsored by a billionaire. She will join Johnson Space Center alongside her husband, who was picked for NASA’s previous astronaut class and used to work as a SpaceX flight surgeon.
Lauren Edgar, a geologist who worked with the Curiosity rover on Mars, recently joined the science team preparing for the first moon landing under NASA’s Artemis program. The moon mission is planned for no earlier than 2027. “I am so excited to be officially part of the NASA family,” Edgar said.
