The final frontier calls for a new crew, as NASA's latest batch of astronauts have officially earned their wings, ready to tackle space like never before. NASA celebrated the graduation of ten new astronauts, two with distinct Arizona connections, on Tuesday at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. This newest group is now eligible for thrilling assignments that could place them aboard the International Space Station or even part of the Artemis missions heading for the moon.
Aboard these intrepid ten, Chris Birch, a Mesa native and University of Arizona grad, and Jessica Wittner, also a University grad, stood out as they are now cleared for potential lunar landings. both women completed an arduous two-plus years of training including spacewalks and robotics. Wittner, a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy and an experienced test pilot, boasts an impressive career that includes flying F/A-18 fighter jets. Birch, after a stint in academia, took a dramatic career turn to become a track cyclist before aiming even higher as an astronaut, according to ABC15.
These graduates were selected from a pool of over 12,000 applicants, showcasing that NASA's quests are not for the faint of heart. "Congratulations to the newest class of NASA astronauts! We are excited to have a new and diverse set of explorers ready to expand humanity’s reach," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, as reported by 12News.
Not only was this a milestone for the American space program, but it also bolstered international cooperation as two astronauts from the United Arab Emirates trained alongside their NASA compatriots and participated in the graduation ceremony. This is seen as an extension of NASA's commitment to partnership, which encompasses cooperative efforts like the Artemis missions via the Gateway lunar space station. Dreamers and pioneers eager to join these ranks, noting requirements such as a master's degree in a SIMD field and professional experience or pilot hours, can find the pathway to the stars at usajobs.gov.
