On September 22, NASA proudly introduced its 10 new astronaut candidates after a rigorous selection process that attracted over 8,000 applicants nationwide. These talented individuals will undergo nearly two years of training before being eligible for flight assignments that will support exciting future missions to low Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars.
Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy officially welcomed the all-American astronaut candidates for 2025 during a ceremony held at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
“I am thrilled to introduce the next generation of American explorers to our agency! With over 8,000 applicants, including scientists, pilots, engineers, and dreamers from every corner of the nation, the 10 men and women here today truly represent the idea that, in America, anyone can achieve their dreams— even the dream of going to space,” Duffy stated. “Together, we will unlock a new era of exploration.”
The agency’s 24th astronaut class began training at NASA Johnson in mid-September. Their curriculum covers a wide range of necessary skills and knowledge for complex operations aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Artemis missions to the Moon, and beyond. This rigorous training includes robotics, survival skills, geology, foreign languages, space medicine, and spacewalk simulations, along with flying high-performance jets.
Upon graduation, the 2025 class will join NASA’s active astronaut corps. These astronauts will conduct scientific research aboard the space station while also preparing for upcoming transitions to commercial space stations and future human exploration missions on the Moon and Mars. Their diverse expertise and technical backgrounds are vital for advancing NASA’s deep space exploration goals and establishing a long-term human presence beyond low Earth orbit.
The 2025 astronaut candidates are:
Ben Bailey, 38, is a chief warrant officer 3 in the U.S. Army, originally from Charlottesville, Virginia. He holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Virginia and is completing a master’s in systems engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School. Ben has over 2,000 flight hours and specializes in the developmental testing of Army rotary wing aircraft.
Lauren Edgar, 40, hails from Sammamish, Washington. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Earth sciences from Dartmouth College, she obtained a master’s and Ph.D. in geology from Caltech. Lauren has played a key role in defining lunar science goals for the Artemis III mission and has over 17 years of experience in supporting Mars exploration rovers.
Adam Fuhrmann, 35, is a major in the U.S. Air Force from Leesburg, Virginia, with over 2,100 flight hours across 27 aircraft. He holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from MIT and multiple master’s degrees. Adam has deployed in combat operations, logging 400 combat hours and was serving as the director of operations for an Air Force flight test unit at the time of selection.
Cameron Jones, 35, a major in the U.S. Air Force, is from Savanna, Illinois. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois and has logged over 1,600 flight hours, primarily in the F-22 Raptor. At the time of his selection, he was an Air Force Academic Fellow at DARPA.
Yuri Kubo, 40, originally from Columbus, Indiana, holds dual degrees in electrical engineering from Purdue University. With a decade of experience at SpaceX, Kubo has held roles including launch director for Falcon 9 launches. Before this, he supported various NASA projects, including the Orion spacecraft.
Rebecca Lawler, 38, is a former lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy from Little Elm, Texas, with 2,800 flight hours in over 45 aircraft. She holds degrees in mechanical engineering and several master’s degrees, and has worked as a test pilot for United Airlines.
Anna Menon, 39, from Houston, holds dual degrees in mathematics and Spanish and a master’s in biomedical engineering. After working at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, she flew to space as a mission specialist aboard SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn, where she helped break several records.
Imelda Muller, 34, hails from Copake Falls, New York, and is a former lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. With a background in behavioral neuroscience and medicine, she provided medical support during Navy diving training and was completing a residency in anesthesia at Johns Hopkins at the time of her selection.
Erin Overcash, 34, a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy from Goshen, Kentucky, has experience as an F/A-18 pilot with over 1,300 flight hours. She holds degrees in aerospace engineering and bioastronautics, and she trained with the USA Rugby Women’s National Team during her time in the Navy.
Katherine Spies, 43, from San Diego, is a former Marine Corps helicopter pilot with more than 2,000 flight hours. She holds degrees in chemical engineering and design engineering, serving as a project officer and director of flight test engineering at Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation.
With these 10 new candidates, NASA has now recruited a total of 370 astronaut candidates since selecting the original Mercury Seven in 1959.
“Our mission is moving forward as we prepare for our next giant leap with NASA’s newest astronaut candidates,” said Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA Johnson. “These individuals represent the best and brightest of America, and they will help launch a new age of innovation and exploration as we aim for the Moon and Mars.”
Summary:
NASA has introduced 10 new astronaut candidates for 2025 after a highly competitive selection process involving over 8,000 applicants. These individuals will undergo almost two years of training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, preparing them for future missions to low Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars. Each candidate brings unique skills and backgrounds in diverse fields like engineering, medicine, and military, contributing to NASA’s ambitious goals for space exploration.
