Astronaut Candidates Get to Work at Johnson Space Center

NASA's newest class of astronaut candidates has arrived at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to begin their two-year training program. Selected from a record-breaking applicant pool, these men and women will undergo rigorous preparation for future space missions. The training program includes intensive instruction in spacewalks, robotics, International Space Station systems, T-38 flight training, and survival skills. The candidates will also learn Russian language skills necessary for working with international partners on the space station. These astronauts will be among the first to participate in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence there before venturing on to Mars. Their training is designed to prepare them for the unique challenges of deep space exploration, including extended missions beyond low Earth orbit. NASA officials have expressed excitement about this diverse and talented class, noting that they bring a wide range of skills and backgrounds that will be valuable for the agency's ambitious exploration goals in the coming decade.