NASA introduced a new astronaut class on September 23, 2025, at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, presenting 10 candidates selected from more than 8,000 applicants. The group, composed of six women and four men, marked the first time more women were chosen than men for astronaut training. This noteworthy achievement reflected a growing effort to create equal opportunities in space exploration. The selected candidates included a geologist who had worked on the Curiosity Mars rover and a SpaceX engineer who previously joined a private orbital mission that completed the first commercial spacewalk. Officials explained that this 24th astronaut class would support the Artemis program, which targets a Moon landing by 2027, and might join future missions to Mars. NASA leaders underlined the indispensable importance of keeping national leadership in space, stressing that international competition gave greater urgency to the mission.

The 10 astronauts will complete two years of intense training before being considered for flights. According to NASA leadership, the group is expected to become a pivotal part of upcoming operations, which involve lunar exploration and long-term planetary research. Experts in spaceflight noted that the class could help the agency further distinguish itself in global space activities, as the members bring experience as pilots, scientists, engineers, and doctors. The group also included Anna Menon, the first NASA candidate with prior spaceflight, and Lauren Edgar, a scientist from the U.S. Geological Survey. Officials emphasized that this team represented a truly transformative step in astronaut selection. While challenges remain immense, the resilience of the group was said to inspire future generations.