NASA has officially introduced its 24th class of astronaut candidates, a group of ten individuals selected to support the agency's ambitious goals for lunar exploration and future crewed missions to Mars. The ten members were chosen from a competitive pool of more than 8,000 applicants and were presented to the public on September 22, 2025, at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
This new cohort, comprising six women and four men, will now begin an intensive two-year training program. Their successful completion will make them eligible for assignments on missions to the International Space Station, the Moon under the Artemis program, and potentially the first human expeditions to Mars.
Key Takeaways
- NASA announced its 24th astronaut candidate class, with 10 members selected from over 8,000 applicants.
- The class includes six women and four men, marking the first time a class has a female majority.
- Candidates have diverse backgrounds in military aviation, science, medicine, and commercial spaceflight.
- The group includes Anna Menon, the first NASA astronaut candidate to have previously flown an orbital mission with a commercial company (SpaceX's Polaris Dawn).
- These new candidates will train for future missions to the ISS, the Moon, and Mars.
A New Generation for Lunar and Martian Exploration
The announcement took place at the Teague Auditorium, where the candidates were introduced one by one to an audience of family, friends, and NASA personnel. The event marks the formal beginning of their journey to become fully qualified astronauts. Norm Knight, Director of NASA’s Flight Operations Directorate, highlighted the rigorous selection process.
"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 Knight.
The candidates also received a welcome message from the crew currently aboard the International Space Station. In a prerecorded video, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, a member of Expedition 73, offered words of encouragement to the new class.
"We’re a close-knit group in the Astronaut Office and we’re thrilled to welcome you into the fold," Kim said. "The people sitting beside you right now will become more than colleagues. They’ll become lifelong friends."
The Path to Becoming an Astronaut
The astronaut candidate, or "ASCAN," program is a two-year training and evaluation period. During this time, candidates receive instruction in a wide range of subjects, including spacecraft systems, spacewalking skills, robotics, aviation, and the Russian language. After successfully completing the program, they become eligible for mission assignments.
Diverse Expertise and Historic Milestones
The 2025 class is notable for its composition. With six women, it is the first NASA astronaut class to have a female majority. The group also represents a significant shift by including individuals with direct experience in the commercial space sector.
Among the candidates is Anna Menon, 39, who made history as the first person selected by NASA who had already flown to orbit on a commercial mission. Menon served as a mission specialist and medical officer on the privately funded Polaris Dawn mission in September 2024. Her husband, Anil Menon, was selected in the previous astronaut class of 2021, making them the fourth married couple to be active in the astronaut corps at the same time.
Another member with a commercial space background is Yuri Kubo, 40. He spent 12 years at SpaceX, where he held senior roles including launch director for Falcon 9 missions and director of avionics for the Starshield program.
Class of 2025 By the Numbers
- 10 total candidates
- 8,000+ original applicants
- 6 women, 4 men
- 2 years of initial training
- 24th astronaut class in NASA history
Meet the 2025 Astronaut Candidates
The ten candidates bring a wealth of experience from various fields, including military aviation, geology, and medicine. Their combined skills will be crucial for the complex missions planned for the coming decades.
Military Aviators and Test Pilots
A strong tradition of military pilots continues with this class. The group includes five members with extensive flight experience in the armed forces.
- Rebecca Lawler, 38, a former U.S. Navy pilot, has logged over 2,800 flight hours in 45 different aircraft. Her career includes flying as a hurricane hunter for NOAA and, most recently, working as a test pilot for United Airlines.
- Erin Overcash, 34, is a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy with more than 1,300 flight hours. She also participated in the Navy’s World Class Athlete Program, training with the USA Rugby Women’s National Team.
- Ben Bailey, 38, is a chief warrant officer in the U.S. Army from Virginia.
- Adam Fuhrmann, 35, is a major in the U.S. Air Force, also from Virginia.
- Cameron Jones, 35, is a major in the U.S. Air Force who grew up in Illinois.
Scientific and Technical Experts
Complementing the pilots are candidates with deep backgrounds in science, engineering, and medicine.
- Lauren Edgar, 40, is a geologist who previously worked at the U.S. Geological Survey. She is already familiar with NASA's lunar objectives, having served as the deputy principal investigator for the Artemis 3 Geology Team.
- Katherine Spies, 43, is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Before her selection, she was the director of flight test engineering at Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation.
- Imelda Muller, 34, is a former U.S. Navy lieutenant currently completing her residency in anesthesiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
- Anna Menon, 39, brings her experience as a mission director at SpaceX and her flight on Polaris Dawn.
- Yuri Kubo, 40, contributes his extensive engineering and launch operations experience from his 12-year tenure at SpaceX.
This diverse group will now train together, learning to operate as a cohesive team. Their journey represents the next step in humanity's ongoing quest to explore the cosmos, building on the legacy of the astronauts who came before them while paving the way for future generations.