NASA’s new astronaut candidates first class with more women than men

By Dean Murray

These are the new astronauts who could be the first on Mars.

NASA announced Monday (Sep 22) that they have selected ten new space candidates in its 2025 class.

The space agency explained that there was a competitive selection process to choose from more than 8,000 applicants from across the United States.

The six women and four men chosen make it the first candidate class with more females.

The class will now complete nearly two years of training before becoming eligible for flight assignments supporting future science and exploration missions to low Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars.

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy welcomed the all-American 2025 astronaut candidate class during a ceremony at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

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He said: "I’m honored to welcome the next generation of American explorers to our agency.

"More than 8,000 people applied – scientists, pilots, engineers, dreamers from every corner of this nation.

"The ten men and women 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.

"Together, we’ll unlock the Golden Age of exploration."

NASA added: "After graduation, the 2025 class will join the agency’s active astronaut corps. Active astronauts are conducting science research aboard the space station while preparing for the transition to commercial space stations and the next great leaps in human exploration at the Moon and Mars."

The candidates include Anna Menon, who flew to space in 2024 as a mission specialist on SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, setting a new female altitude record and participating in the first commercial spacewalk.

Others selected include Katherine Spies, a former Marine Corps attack helicopter pilot, and Imelda Muller, who served as an undersea medical officer in the US Navy.