The announcement was made on 22 September 2025 at the Johnson Space Center. Sean Duffy, acting NASA administrator, described the new class as embodying “the next generation of American explorers”. He said the successful candidates represent a broad mix of backgrounds – scientists, engineers, pilots and dreamers – from every corner of the nation.
Training for the 24th class includes rigorous preparation for the International Space Station, Artemis lunar missions and future deep-space exploration. Activities will encompass robotics, land and water survival, geology, foreign languages, space medicine and physiology. The cohort will also take part in simulated spacewalks and fly high-performance jets.
Once training is complete, the candidates will join NASA’s active astronaut corps and will be involved in current operations aboard the International Space Station as well as preparations for future commercial space stations and missions beyond low-Earth orbit.
Their technical expertise, scientific experience and operational acumen are seen as vital to helping NASA sustain a long-term human presence in space.
The 10 selected astronaut candidates are:
- Ben Bailey (38), Chief Warrant Officer 3, US Army – from Charlottesville, Virginia; holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and is completing a master’s in systems engineering; logged more than 2,000 flight hours across fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.
- Dr Lauren Edgar (40) – Earth scientist with a doctorate in geology; long-time contributor to Mars rover missions and planning for Artemis III.
- Major Adam Fuhrmann (35), US Air Force – aerospace engineer with dual master’s degrees and extensive flight test experience.
- Major Cameron Jones (35), US Air Force – test pilot with over 1,600 flight hours and a background in aerospace engineering.
- Yuri Kubo (40) – electrical and computer engineer with years of experience at SpaceX in launch operations and avionics.
- Rebecca Lawler (38) – Former US Navy experimental test pilot with more than 2,800 hours across 45 aircraft types.
- Anna Menon (39) – biomedical engineer with mission control and recent spaceflight experience.
- Dr Imelda Muller (34) – medical doctor and former naval medical officer with expertise in undersea medicine.
- Lieutenant Commander Erin Overcash (34), US Navy – fighter pilot and test pilot with carrier landing experience.
- Katherine Spies (43) – chemical and design engineer, helicopter pilot and test pilot with significant military service.
NASA noted that with this new class, the agency has now recruited 370 astronaut candidates since the original Mercury Seven in 1959.
The ceremony introducing the new class was held at Johnson Space Center, with the candidates immediately beginning their training to prepare for scientific research, exploration and deep space missions.