Editor | February 6, 2016
womenAstronauts
After being accepted into NASA’s astronaut training program in 2013, four women now comprise half of the newest astronaut class — a first in NASA history. Christina Hammock Koch, Nicole Aunapu Mann, Anne McClain, and Jessica Meir, who are now officially part of NASA’s astronaut corps, began the selection process and training over two years ago. Along with their four male counterparts, the women were selected from a pool of over 6,000 applicants.
“We never determine how many people of each gender we’re going to take, but these were the most qualified people of the ones that we interviewed,” explains Janet Kavandi, the deputy director of NASA’s Glenn Research Center. But qualifications aren’t enough to make an astronaut: determination is key. “These individuals have worked incredibly hard to attain this milestone,” Chris Cassidy, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, said when they completed their technical training in July 2015. “For many, it is the culmination of a lifetime of dedication and perseverance to reach this goal. We are proud to have them join the NASA astronaut corps.”
This astronaut class is the first being trained for a future crewed mission to Mars and the prospect of potentially being the first humans on Mars is especially thrilling to the new astronauts, most of whom have dreamed of becoming astronauts since childhood. “That idea of exploration has always been a part of the human experience,” says Meir. “Trying to understand our place in the universe is what drives me more than anything.” McClain agrees: “If we go to Mars, we’ll be representing our entire species in a place we’ve never been before. To me it’s the highest thing a human being can achieve.” And, she reflects, “With so much conflict in the world, space exploration can be a beacon of hope. No one cares about race or religion or nationality in space travel. We’re all just part of Team Human.”
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Hmmm,4 boys and 4 girls. I'm betting that is just a big coinkydink,and has nothing to do with preventing jealous fights and murders.
Gee,I wonder which one will be the one to make history by giving birth to the very first Martian?
One thing I know is that kid has his fortune made for him or her the instant they are born.
I can only imagine the knife fights between lawyers trying to sign up to represent that family as the true owners of a whole planet.
