NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston was abuzz on Tuesday with the graduation of 12 astronauts, ready to take on the cosmos as part of NASA's Artemis program. The class, tagged 'the flies,' includes 10 homegrown Americans and two from the United Arab Emirates. With space missions on the rise, these astronauts are prepped to man missions to the International Space Station, the moon and perhaps beyond, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Among the eclectic mix of graduates are previous military pilots, scientists, engineers, and an emergency medicine physician. This diverse new batch completed a rigorous two-year training which spanned learning Russian to underwater spacewalk preparations. An increase in the number of space missions has NASA eager for these qualified individuals to potentially crew SpaceX Crew Dragon or Russian Soyuz capsules, and perhaps even future flights aboard Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner or NASA’s Orion spacecraft, as relayed by a NASA news release.

These new astronauts couldn't come at a more opportune time, with NASA casting a wide net for its 24th class of explorers. Candidates need a STEM master's degree or equivalent and are required to pass a NASA physical. This latest batch of 12 was whittled down from over 12,000 eager applicants, a testament to the stiff competition and high standards for selection. With applications closing on April 2, those itching to reach for the stars should submit their paperwork posthaste, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.

The ceremonial occasion also shined a light on the international collaboration with the UAE's Nora AlMatrooshi and Mohammad AlMulla sharing the spotlight. The duo, now part of an elite few to represent the UAE in space, trained shoulder to shoulder with their NASA counterparts. This partnership not only cements a bridge between the two space agencies but also reinforces a collective endeavor in reaching new heights in space exploration. "It's an incredible time to be an astronaut with a variety of spacecraft to fly and more destinations to explore," Chief Astronaut Joe Acaba told NASA.

The class of astronauts are a reflection of perseverance and a newfound excitement for space exploration. Anil Menon, one of the graduate and former NASA and SpaceX flight surgeon, captured the essence of this transition, "Going from flight surgeon to astronaut is like being your own experiment on some level," Menon told the Houston Chronicle. "It’s a very strange transition … and I do it wholeheartedly."