The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), also known as the Space Agency, has recently selected a new group of 10 astronaut candidates, with the number of female candidates exceeding that of males, marking the first time in the organization’s over sixty-year history.
These new astronaut candidates were chosen by NASA from over 8,000 applicants across the United States. They comprise engineers, scientists, retired military personnel, and even an anesthesiologist.
Among the ten candidates are six women and four men, making them NASA’s 24th group of astronauts and the first new astronaut group since 2021.
They will undergo two years of training before becoming eligible to carry out space missions, including missions in low Earth orbit, lunar missions, and potentially becoming the first to set foot on Mars.
On Tuesday, September 23, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and Acting NASA Administrator, Sean Duffy, welcomed these new astronauts at a ceremony held at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Speaking to the ten selected astronaut candidates, Duffy said, “In the United States, regardless of where you start, the achievements that a steadfast dreamer can attain are boundless – even reaching into space.”
Addressing the competition with China in lunar exploration, Duffy stated, “We will definitely win. We thrive on challenges and competition.”
NASA announced that the Artemis II crewed lunar mission is scheduled to launch in April 2026, with the possibility of being moved up to February.
According to NASA’s announcement, here are the basic details of the ten astronaut candidates selected in 2025:
Ben Bailey, 38, an Army Captain from Charlottesville, Virginia, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Systems Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School in California.
Lauren Edgar, 40, hailing from Sammamish, Washington, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Earth Sciences from Dartmouth College and Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Geology from the California Institute of Technology.
Adam Fuhrmann, 35, a U.S. Air Force Major from Leesburg, Virginia, has over 2,100 flying hours of experience, including flying F-16 and F-35 aircraft.
Cameron Jones, 35, a U.S. Air Force Major from Savanna, Illinois, boasts over 1,600 flying hours, mainly piloting the F-22 Raptor.
Yuri Kubo, 40, from Columbus, Indiana, holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and has had a 12-year career at SpaceX.
Rebecca Lawler, 38, born in Pecan Grove, Texas, previously served as a Navy Lieutenant, flying 45 aircraft and accumulating over 2,800 flying hours.
Anna Menon, 39, from Houston, received dual Bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Spanish from Texas Christian University and a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University.
Imelda Muller, 34, from Copake Falls, New York, is a former Navy Lieutenant and underwater medical officer trained at the Naval Undersea Medical Institute.
Erin Overcash, 34, a Navy Lieutenant from Georgetown, Kentucky, has Bachelor’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering and a Master’s degree in Bioastronautics from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Katherine Spies, 43, from San Diego, graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Southern California and a Master’s degree in Design Engineering from Harvard University.
This new group of astronaut candidates brings diverse backgrounds and extensive experience to NASA and heralds an exciting chapter in the space agency’s history as they prepare for upcoming missions.