by “The Flies” are ready to fly, so NASA is once again in need of some new flights (and gals).
On the same day that the space agency welcomed its latest class of astronauts, known as “The Flies,” into its ranks, NASA announced that it is once again accepting applications for its next group of candidates for flights to the Station. International Space, the moon and, eventually, missions to Mars.
“The breadth and depth of experience this class brings to our space program is amazing,” said Shannon Walker, deputy chief executive of NASA’s Astronaut Office and “class mom” for the Group 23 astronauts, at her graduation ceremony at the Space Center Johnson in Houston on Tuesday (March 5).
“This class has unique and special talents that they bring to NASA,” Walker said. “And indeed, we believe that everyone has a special talent that they can bring to our astronaut corps. And that’s why we’re so excited to announce that we’re accepting applications again.”
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On Tuesday, the 10 members of the 23rd group of NASA astronauts graduated after completing two years of basic training. The four women and six men received NASA silver astronaut pins – a tradition dating back to the original Mercury 7 astronauts – signifying their eligibility for spaceflight assignments. (They will trade their silver pins for a gold version after they enter space for the first time.)
Nichole Ayers, Marcos Berríos, Chris Birch, Deniz Burnham, Luke Delaney, Andre Douglas, Jack Hathaway, Anil Menon, Christopher Williams and Jessica Wittner bring the total number of active Space Office members to 48, including the five on the space at the moment. station.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to celebrate you today,” Expedition 70 flight engineer Loral O’Hara said in a video recorded aboard the space station. “Don’t forget to take a moment to be proud of yourself and how far you’ve come as individuals and as a class. I can tell you one thing is for sure: staying on the International Space Station is worth it.”
Since April 1959, NASA has selected a total of 360 Americans for its astronaut corps, and all but three have qualified for launch.
“Our astronaut corps puts the ‘person’ in human spaceflight,” said Vanessa Wyche, director of the Johnson Space Center. “Popularly known as ‘The Flies’, they have completed their training and will now be eligible for flight assignments to the space station, the moon under the Artemis and Mars program.”
Joining the Americans as new graduates were two members of the second class of astronauts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammad Al Mulla, who underwent training under an agreement between NASA and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center, with “The flies” and received the same silver pins as their counterparts in the US Four UAE astronauts are now qualified to fly on future NASA missions.
“Artemis is the most diverse international space exploration coalition in history, with 36 countries signing the Artemis Agreements,” Wyche said. “I look forward to seeing everything you do and your giant leap as we go on to the moon and then on to Mars.”
“The Flies” are the first class of astronauts to graduate since NASA began assigning new crews to send to the moon as part of the Artemis program. In April 2023, NASA named the four astronauts who will fly on Artemis 2, now targeted for late 2025, which will be the first crewed flight to orbit the moon since the Apollo missions more than 50 years ago.
“It’s been almost 60 years since Group 4, of which I was a part, stood on this stage,” said Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 lunar module pilot and the only geologist to walk on the moon to date. “If we had known what was in store for Group 23, we probably would never have volunteered. It would have been a waste of time.”
“Today this group of excellent people has reached one of the great milestones,” said Schmitt. “He’s on his way to a flight assignment and, as I understand from this morning, some tasks have already been done.”
As new astronauts, “The Flies” may not be the first to land on the next moon, but some will likely fill technical roles supporting the first flights, including serving as capcoms (communicators capsules) in Mission Control and supervise the preparation of the mission rocket and spacecraft.
The good news is that they won’t be the “new guys” for very long.
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NASA through April 2 is now recruiting for its class of 24 astronauts.
Applicants must be United States citizens and be able to pass a long-duration spaceflight physical, including correctable vision to 20/20 in each eye (glasses and LASIK) and be able to fit into NASA spacecraft and space accessories.
Applicants must also have a master’s degree in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering or mathematics); degree of doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine; two years towards a doctorate in a related STEM field or to qualify as a test pilot. In addition, there must be at least two years of related professional experience or 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft.
All applicants will undergo an online assessment consistent with modern recruitment practices across government and industry.
Applications are now being accepted through the federal government’s USAJobs website. The number of people selected is yet to be determined.
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