The newest class of recruits were chosen out of more than 18,300 applicants.Out of a record-breaking 18,300 applicants to NASA’s space program, 12 were chosen to join the newest class of astronaut candidates. Vice President Mike Spence was on hand last week at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to announce the new recruits.
“These are 12 men and women whose personal excellence and whose personal courage will carry our nation to even greater heights of discovery,” said Pence, according to a CNN report. “And who I know will inspire our children and our grandchildren every bit as much as your forebears have done so in this storied American program.”
Arrived at @NASA_Johnson and met the 12 new astronaut candidates. Congratulations to them all! Watch live: https://t.co/h0MgcMv9Z7 #VPinTX pic.twitter.com/ngEigVCsiU
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) June 7, 2017
What does it take to join this elite crew? Just a bit of “the right stuff,” to borrow a phrase from the author Tom Wolfe, whose 1979 book by that name acquainted the world with the mental and physical characteristics shared by astronauts. Check out the newest astronauts’ inspiring stories here:
Kayla Barron, 29, Zena Cardman, 29, Raja Chari, 39, Matthew Dominick, 35, Bob Hines, 42, Warren “Woody” Hoburg, 31, Dr. Jonny Kim, 33, Robb Kulin, 33, Jasmin Moghbeli, 33, Loral O’Hara, 34, Dr. Francisco “Frank” Rubio, 41 and Jessica Watkins, 29.
After two years of training, the recruits could be assigned to deep space missions, researching at the the International Space Station or joining missions aboard spacecrafts built by commercial companies, according to the CNN report.
