Introduction to the 2025 NASA Astronaut Candidate Class
The latest class of NASA astronaut candidates has been announced, and it’s a historic milestone for the space agency. For the first time, the class is made up of mostly women, and it includes an individual who has already been to orbit. This achievement marks a significant step towards NASA’s goals of sending humans back to the Moon and on to Mars. The 2025 class of American astronaut candidates was revealed in Houston, showcasing the names and impressive skill sets of 10 individuals.
FILE: The SpaceX Polaris Dawn crew splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Dry Tortugas, Florida, in the pre-dawn hours Sunday morning.
Meet the Candidates
One of the notable candidates is Anna Menon, a 39-year-old Houston native and member of the SpaceX Polaris Dawn crew. Menon is the first astronaut candidate who has already been to orbit, having served as a mission specialist and medical officer on Polaris Dawn in 2024. The mission, launched by SpaceX and commanded by American businessman Jared Isaacman, holds several spaceflight records, including the first commercial spacewalk. During the flight, Menon and her crewmate, Sarah Gillis, set a new altitude record for women.
Anna Menon during Polaris Dawn EVA spacesuit acceptance testing at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
(Polaris Program / John Kraus)
Candidates’ Backgrounds and Experience
The candidates come from a variety of backgrounds, with many having military experience. Lauren Edgar, 40, has already been contributing to NASA’s Artemis Moon program and other NASA missions. Edgar served as the deputy principal investigator for the Artemis III Geology Team, helping to define the lunar science goals for the first astronauts to go back to the Moon in more than 50 years.
Yuri Kuno, 40, worked for SpaceX for over a decade and contributed to NASA’s Orion spacecraft, the International Space Station, and the space shuttle. U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Ben Bailey, 38, is a test pilot with experience on 30 different rotary and fixed-wind aircraft. U.S. Air Force Maj. Adam Fuhrmann, 35, has logged more than 400 combat hours and was the director of operations of an Air Force flight test unit when NASA selected him for astronaut training.
The 2025 NASA astronaut candidate class at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
(Josh Valcarcel / NASA)
Training and Future Missions
The 24th astronaut class has already begun training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The candidates will undergo rigorous training to prepare themselves for future missions, including trips to the Moon and Mars. With their diverse backgrounds and experience, this class of astronaut candidates is poised to make significant contributions to the field of space exploration.
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