NASA has officially welcomed its newest group of space explorers — the 2025 astronaut candidate class. Selected from more than 8,000 applicants across the United States, these ten men and women will begin nearly two years of intensive training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston before becoming eligible for missions to low Earth orbit, the Moon, and eventually Mars.
A Historic Moment in Human Spaceflight.
During Monday’s ceremony, Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy praised the class as a symbol of the limitless possibilities of American innovation and determination.
“More than 8,000 people applied – scientists, pilots, engineers, dreamers from every corner of this nation,” Duffy said. “The 10 sitting here today embody the truth that in America, regardless of where you start, there is no limit to what a determined dreamer can achieve – even going to space.”
This marks NASA’s 24th astronaut candidate class since the original Mercury Seven in 1959. Their training will prepare them for Artemis missions to the lunar surface, science aboard the International Space Station (ISS), and the future exploration of Mars.
Training for the Next Giant Leap.
Over the next two years, the astronaut candidates will undergo rigorous preparation, including:
- Robotics operations and spacecraft systems.
- Simulated spacewalks in NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab.
- Land and water survival training.
- High-performance jet flying.
- Geology fieldwork for lunar and Martian exploration.
- Medical and physiology courses.
- Language skills for international cooperation.
Upon graduation, they will join NASA’s active astronaut corps — currently advancing research aboard the ISS while preparing for the transition to commercial space stations and deep space missions.
Meet NASA’s 2025 Astronaut Candidate Class.
The new astronaut candidates bring diverse expertise from the military, aviation, engineering, medicine, geology, and private space industry:
- Ben Bailey (38, Charlottesville, VA) – U.S. Army test pilot with 2,000+ flight hours.
- Lauren Edgar (40, Sammamish, WA) –Geologist and Mars rover scientist, deputy PI for Artemis III Geology Team.
- Adam Fuhrmann (35, Leesburg, VA) – U.S. Air Force major, 2,100+ flight hours, experienced F-16 and F-35 pilot.
- Cameron Jones (35, Savanna, IL) – U.S. Air Force test pilot, F-22 Raptor specialist.
- Yuri Kubo (40, Columbus, IN) – Former SpaceX launch director and avionics leader, electrical engineer.
- Rebecca Lawler (38, Little Elm, TX) – Former Navy and NOAA test pilot, 2,800+ flight hours.
- Anna Menon (39, Houston, TX) – SpaceX engineer, biomedical expert, flew on Polaris Dawn mission in 2024.
- Imelda Muller (34, Copake Falls, NY) – Physician and former Navy undersea medical officer.
- Erin Overcash (34, Goshen, KY) – Navy test pilot, aerospace engineer, and Olympic-level athlete.
- Katherine Spies (43, San Diego, CA) – Former Marine attack helicopter test pilot, flight test engineering leader.
With these additions, NASA has now selected 370 astronaut candidates since 1959, each contributing to America’s journey into space.
Shaping the Future of Lunar and Mars Exploration.
Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA Johnson,emphasized the importance of this new class:
“Representing America’s best and brightest, this astronaut candidate class will usher in the Golden Age of innovation and exploration as we push toward the Moon and Mars.”
From piloting spacecraft and conducting spacewalks, to exploring the Moon’s surface and advancing medical research in microgravity, the 2025 astronaut class will be central to NASA’s Artemis generation of explorers.
The future of human spaceflight is being written today — and these ten pioneers are ready to turn that vision into reality.
