NASA Unveils All-American 2025 Astronaut Candidate Class
NASA has announced its 2025 class of astronaut candidates, a group of ten extraordinary Americans chosen from more than 8,000 applicants. The announcement, made at Johnson Space Center in Houston, marks the start of their journey toward missions that could take them to the International Space Station, the Moon, and even Mars.
Breaking Barriers
For the first time in NASA history, women outnumber men in a new astronaut class, with six women and four men selected. This milestone highlights NASA’s commitment to diversity and representation in space exploration.
Who Made the Cut
The 2025 class — officially Astronaut Group 24 — includes:
- Test pilots from the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force
- A geologist who has worked on Mars rover missions
- Physicians with aerospace and undersea medicine expertise
- Engineers from SpaceX and NASA’s mission control
- Anna Menon, the first astronaut candidate with prior spaceflight experience after flying on the private Polaris Dawn mission
Training for the Future
Over the next two years, the candidates will train in:
- Space station operations
- Spacewalk and robotics practice
- Lunar mission preparation under Artemis
- Jet flight training, survival skills, and languages
Why It Matters
This new class arrives at a time when NASA is preparing for its Artemis missions to the Moon and laying the groundwork for human missions to Mars. Their selection reflects not only America’s technical excellence but also its bold vision for the next frontier.
As NASA leaders put it, these ten candidates embody the spirit of exploration — ready to write the next chapter of human spaceflight.
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