NASA Unveils 2025 Astronaut Class of 10 Candidates

NASA has introduced its 2025 class of astronaut candidates, selected from a pool of over 8,000 applicants across the United States. The announcement was made at the Johnson Space Center in Houston by interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, who praised the diverse group of ten candidates as the embodiment of American exploration and innovation.

The new candidates will undergo nearly two years of training, preparing for missions to low Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars. Their curriculum includes complex operations aboard the International Space Station, Artemis lunar missions, and more, covering areas such as robotics, geology, and space physiology.

The 2025 class includes individuals with backgrounds in the military, engineering, and space exploration. Notable candidates include Ben Bailey, a U.S. Army warrant officer with extensive flight experience, and Lauren Edgar, a geologist involved in defining lunar science objectives for Artemis III.

Upon completion of their training, these candidates will join NASA's active astronaut corps, contributing to scientific research aboard the ISS and preparing for future commercial space station transitions and deep space exploration.

NASA has selected a total of 370 astronaut candidates since the original Mercury Seven in 1959. The agency emphasizes the importance of their operational experience and technical expertise in achieving long-term human presence beyond low Earth orbit.

For more information and photos of the new astronaut candidates, visit NASA's website.