After nearly two decades of operating robotic rovers on Mars and planning lunar science missions, NASA geologist Lauren Edgar has been selected as one of 10 members of the agency's 2025 astronaut candidate class. Her career now shifts from guiding missions from Earth to preparing for potential journeys to the Moon and beyond.
Key Takeaways
- NASA geologist Lauren Edgar, with nearly 20 years of experience, was named a member of the 2025 astronaut candidate class.
- For 17 years, she supported Mars rover missions, including Curiosity, before working on science objectives for the Artemis program.
- Edgar will now undergo two years of intensive training at Johnson Space Center, preparing for potential missions to the International Space Station, the Moon, and Mars.
- She views a mission to Mars as a personal dream and sees the Artemis lunar missions as a critical step toward that goal.
A Career Shift from Mission Control to Spacesuit
Lauren Edgar's career at NASA has been defined by her work exploring other worlds through robotic proxies. For 17 years, she was a key figure in the Mars Curiosity and Mars Exploration Rover missions, helping to navigate the Red Planet's terrain and analyze its geology from millions of miles away.
More recently, her focus shifted to the Moon, where she served as deputy principal investigator for the Artemis 3 geology team. In this role, Edgar helped design the scientific tasks future astronauts would perform on the lunar surface. Now, she is preparing to be the one executing those tasks.
"Previously, I was working in a role where we were asking the astronauts… to conduct certain science tasks," Edgar explained. "Suddenly I need to think through, like, 'Oh, wow, I might get to be that person doing some of these activities.'"
This transition represents a significant change in perspective. Edgar acknowledges the immense challenge ahead, recognizing the "high cognitive load that it takes to be operating in these challenging and remote environments while focusing on the mission objectives." She stated she is excited to take on this new challenge.
From Planner to Participant
For years, Edgar has been involved in training astronauts and mission teams in geology. Her work required her to think like an explorer on another planet. This new role as an astronaut candidate, or ASCAN, makes that perspective a potential reality, moving her from a support position to a primary operator.
The Moment of Selection and Early Inspirations
The news of her selection into the prestigious astronaut program came as a complete surprise. "I was so excited. You know, totally shocked," she told Space.com. The first to hear the news was her dog, Coco, who chased her around the house as she took the life-changing phone call.
Edgar's interest in space exploration began in second grade after witnessing a space shuttle launch. "I realized there were people onboard, and they were leaving the planet, and it made me wonder, 'What else is out there?'" she recalled. This early fascination, combined with a love for the outdoors fostered by her upbringing in the Pacific Northwest, guided her toward a career in geology and planetary science.
In a moment of symmetry, her own niece, who is now in second grade, watched the NASA announcement online. Edgar uses her journey to encourage young people to pursue their ambitions. "Don't give up," she advised. "Nothing is impossible, and it takes a lot of people from a lot of different backgrounds to contribute to what we're doing here in human exploration."
From Martian Geology to Lunar Ambitions
Edgar's extensive experience with Mars is a significant asset. During her time on the rover teams, she often tried to mentally place herself on the Martian surface to better understand the landscape. This imaginative exercise may one day become reality, as she said a trip to Mars "would be a dream" and that she "would welcome the opportunity if it ever came."
Before any potential Mars mission, the focus is on the Moon. NASA's Artemis program aims to establish a sustained human presence on the lunar surface, beginning with missions to the south pole. Edgar sees this region as a vital destination for both science and long-term exploration goals.
Why the Lunar South Pole?
The Moon's south pole is a region of intense scientific interest. Craters in this area are permanently shadowed, meaning they haven't seen sunlight in billions of years. These cold traps are believed to contain water ice, a critical resource that could be used for drinking water, breathable air, and rocket propellant for future deep-space missions.
"That will be a really important place to go, from both a science perspective and also having a sustained presence and using that as a launching area to test a lot of things that we'll need for longer duration missions to Mars," Edgar said. The Artemis missions are designed as a proving ground for the technologies and procedures required for eventual human expeditions to the Red Planet.
Two Years of Intensive Training Ahead
Edgar and her nine classmates will now embark on a rigorous two-year training program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. As astronaut candidates, they will develop a wide range of skills essential for spaceflight. The curriculum is comprehensive and designed to prepare them for any situation.
Key Training Areas for ASCANs:
- Spacecraft Systems: Learning to operate and maintain systems on the International Space Station and future vehicles.
- Spacewalking: Conducting simulated extravehicular activities (EVAs) in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, a massive indoor pool.
- Aviation: Training to fly T-38 supersonic jets to develop decision-making and operational skills.
- Robotics: Mastering the use of robotic arms for station maintenance and mission support.
- Language and Science: Courses in Russian are standard, along with advanced lessons in various scientific disciplines.
The diversity of the 2025 class—which includes pilots, engineers, doctors, and scientists—is intentional. "I think the composition of our class reflects the needs of the program," Edgar noted. This cross-disciplinary approach ensures that mission crews have a broad skill set to handle complex objectives and emergencies far from home.
For Edgar, this new chapter is not a departure from her previous work but a continuation of the same goal: advancing human exploration. "I think I'm working towards the same goals that we had on those rover missions and on the Artemis 3 science team," she said. "I just get to serve in a slightly different role now, but the end goal is the same."
