NASA has unveiled its latest cohort of astronauts, comprising ten individuals poised to play a crucial role in the agency’s ambitious space exploration endeavors. Among them is Lauren Edgar, a geologist from the Pacific Northwest, adding a unique expertise to the team. This marks the first time in NASA’s history that a female astronaut graduate has already journeyed into orbit, setting a new record.
The ‘Class of 2025’ was introduced at Johnson Space Center in Houston, with prominent figures in Congress and other VIPs in attendance. Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy emphasized the rigorous selection process, noting the application of over 8,000 people, highlighting the agency’s commitment to recruiting the ‘best and brightest.’
Edgar, a 40-year-old native of Washington, D.C., who grew up in Sammamish, Wash., and graduated from Skyline High School, brings extensive experience in space research. She previously worked at the U.S. Geological Survey and NASA, leading the USGS’ TARGET training program and supporting missions like the Mars Science Laboratory and Mars Exploration Rover. Her career highlights include a stint as deputy principal investigator on the Artemis 3 Geology Team.
Other members of the new class include Ben Bailey, Adam Fuhrmann, Cameron Jones, Yuri Kubo, Rebecca Lawler, Anna Menon, Imelda Muller, Erin Overcash, and Katherine Spies. Each brings diverse backgrounds and expertise – from military aviation and test piloting to engineering and medical experience. These individuals will undergo extensive training in preparation for future missions, including the Artemis program’s planned trips to the moon and, ultimately, to Mars.
NASA has a rich history of astronaut recruitment, having selected the original Mercury Seven in 1959, with a total of 370 candidates chosen to date. The upcoming Artemis 2 mission, slated for launch next year, aims to send a crew of four astronauts around the moon, setting the stage for a subsequent mission to land on the lunar surface in 2027. Despite challenges and questions surrounding the timeline, NASA remains committed to its leadership in space exploration, asserting its determination to return to the moon and eventually, to Mars.
