NASA on Thursday introduced a team of 18 astronauts who will train for its Artemis moon-landing program. The lunar exploration programme will land the first woman and next man on the Moon in 2024 {{^adFree}}{{/adFree}} NASA on Thursday introduced a team of 18 astronauts who will train for its Artemis moon-landing program. The lunar exploration programme will land the first woman and next man on the Moon in 2024 Vice President Mike Pence introduced the astronauts on Wednesday at the close of his final meeting as chairman of the National Space Council. The announcement was made at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, beneath one of only three remaining Saturn V moon rockets from the 1960s and 1970s Apollo program. Vice President Mike Pence introduced the astronauts on Wednesday at the close of his final meeting as chairman of the National Space Council. The announcement was made at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, beneath one of only three remaining Saturn V moon rockets from the 1960s and 1970s Apollo program.
Among the team of 18 astronauts, Indian-American US Air Force colonel Raja Jon Vurputoor Chari has also been named in the team.
Among the team of 18 astronauts, Indian-American US Air Force colonel Raja Jon Vurputoor Chari has also been named in the team.
Chari, 43, a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and US Naval Test Pilot School, is the only Indian-American in the list. He was selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class.
Chari, 43, a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and US Naval Test Pilot School, is the only Indian-American in the list. He was selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class.
Among those yet to rocket into space: Kayla Barron, Raja Chari, Matthew Dominick, Woody Hoburg, Jonny Kim, Nicole Mann, Jasmin Moghbeli, Frank Rubio and Jessica Watkins.
Among those yet to rocket into space: Kayla Barron, Raja Chari, Matthew Dominick, Woody Hoburg, Jonny Kim, Nicole Mann, Jasmin Moghbeli, Frank Rubio and Jessica Watkins.
While introducing the team, Pence said, “My fellow Americans, I give you the heroes of the future who will carry us back to the Moon and beyond: the Artemis Generation."
While introducing the team, Pence said, “My fellow Americans, I give you the heroes of the future who will carry us back to the Moon and beyond: the Artemis Generation."
Pence noted that the last of the 12 men to walk on the moon, the late Apollo 17 commander Gene Cernan, wanted nothing more than to remove “last" from his title. Cernan's final lunar footsteps were on Dec. 14, 1972.
Pence noted that the last of the 12 men to walk on the moon, the late Apollo 17 commander Gene Cernan, wanted nothing more than to remove “last" from his title. Cernan's final lunar footsteps were on Dec. 14, 1972.
“He spent the rest of his natural life advocating for America to go back to the moon, and we are going to honor Gene Cernan’s memory," Pence told the small crowd, seated several feet apart from one another.
“He spent the rest of his natural life advocating for America to go back to the moon, and we are going to honor Gene Cernan’s memory," Pence told the small crowd, seated several feet apart from one another.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine stressed there would be more astronauts joining the group. NASA has 47 active astronauts.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine stressed there would be more astronauts joining the group. NASA has 47 active astronauts.
The space agency is aiming for a moon landing by 2024, although the chances of that happening are growing increasingly dim. The upcoming change in administration also adds uncertainty.
The space agency is aiming for a moon landing by 2024, although the chances of that happening are growing increasingly dim. The upcoming change in administration also adds uncertainty.
Half of the NASA astronauts have spaceflight experience. Two are at the International Space Station right now: Kate Rubins and Victor Glover.
Half of the NASA astronauts have spaceflight experience. Two are at the International Space Station right now: Kate Rubins and Victor Glover.
The two astronauts who performed the world's first all-female spacewalk last year made the cut: Christina Koch and Jessica Meir.
The two astronauts who performed the world's first all-female spacewalk last year made the cut: Christina Koch and Jessica Meir.
It’s a fairly young group, with most in their 30s or 40s. The oldest is 55, the youngest 32. Only two — Joe Acaba and Stephanie Wilson — flew on NASA’s old space shuttles.
It’s a fairly young group, with most in their 30s or 40s. The oldest is 55, the youngest 32. Only two — Joe Acaba and Stephanie Wilson — flew on NASA’s old space shuttles.
“The history is awesome, but we’re here to look toward the future," Acaba told reporters after the announcement.
“The history is awesome, but we’re here to look toward the future," Acaba told reporters after the announcement.
The other experienced members on the list include Kjell Lindgren, Anne McClain and Scott Tingle, all former space station residents.
The other experienced members on the list include Kjell Lindgren, Anne McClain and Scott Tingle, all former space station residents.
“We are dreamers, but even more so, we’re doers," McClain said.
“We are dreamers, but even more so, we’re doers," McClain said.
She wants children from all backgrounds to take note of the diverse lunar team: “The doors are open, come on after us."
She wants children from all backgrounds to take note of the diverse lunar team: “The doors are open, come on after us." {{^adFree}}{{/adFree}} Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
For as long as NASA has been aiming for a 2024 moon landing, it has touted that this time, unlike during the Apollo program, a woman will walk on the lunar surface. Now, we have a better sense of who that woman might be. Vice President Mike Pence finished his term leading the National Space Council at the council's eighth meeting, held today (Dec. 9) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, by introducing 18 NASA astronauts who make up the heart of the Artemis crews — assuming the incoming administration led by President-elect Joe Biden builds on NASA's existing Artemis program. These are not crew assignments, which are made closer to flight, but reflects the need to begin training for specific tasks sooner rather than later. "This is the first cadre of our Artemis astronauts," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said before asking Pence to introduce the selected astronauts. "I want to be clear there's going to be more." Bridenstine also emphasized that these crewmembers would also staff flights in low Earth orbit as well as flights going to the moon. Video: Vice President Mike Pence announces NASA's Artemis astronauts Image 1 of 8 NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch seen on the International Space Station. (Image credit: NASA)NASA astronaut Stephanie Wilson poses for an official NASA portrait. (Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls)NASA astronaut Kayla Barron undergoes spacewalk training. (Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls)NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins answers a question during her astronaut class unveiling. (Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli during spacewalk training. (Image credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel)NASA astronaut Kate Rubins on the International Space Station. (Image credit: NASA)NASA astronaut Anne McClain inside the International Space Station's Cupola. (Image credit: NASA)NASA astronaut Nicole Mann and her Boeing Starliner CST-100 Crew Flight Test crewmate Mike Fincke. (Image credit: Space.com/Future via Chelsea Gohd)Nine of the 18 selected astronauts are women. Among the astronauts announced today is one of the five NASA crewmembers currently living and working in orbit. Kate Rubins was selected in the astronaut class of 2009 and arrived at the International Space Station in October for a six-month stint. The flight is her second; she also flew in 2016. During that mission, Rubins became the first scientist to sequence DNA in orbit. The Artemis astronaut cadre also includes Christina Koch, who was selected to train as an astronaut in 2013 and has flown to space once, spending 328 days in the second-longest single flight by an American astronaut in 2019 and 2020. During her time in orbit, she participated in six spacewalks, including three with colleague Jessica Meir that were the first all-women spacewalks. Before becoming an astronaut, she completed a winter-long stay at Antarctica's South Pole Station. Meir is also among the new Artemis astronauts; she was selected in the 2013 astronaut class and has made one spaceflight, in 2019 and 2020, during which she conducted three spacewalks with Koch. Before joining NASA, Meir was a biologist; she has raised and trained bar-headed geese and dived in the Antarctic, among other adventures. Meir looked back on those historic spacewalks for perspective on what becoming the first woman on the moon would mean for her or a colleague, comparing that with how she and Koch felt about their spacewalks. "To us, it isn't really a personal achievement for us, it is paying homage and tribute to the generations of women and other minorities that really were the boundary-pushers that truly broke those glass ceilings to let us be here today," Meir said. "The great thing for us now is it just seems normal: We're all going to go together to the moon." In the same class as Koch and Meir is Anne McClain, who spent time in orbit with Koch during her first flight, in 2018 and 2019, during which she completed two spacewalks. Before joining NASA, McClain served in the Army. The longest-serving astronaut among the Artemis corps is Stephanie Wilson, who was selected in 1996 and made three flights on space shuttle missions. Since her most recent orbital jaunt, she has worked throughout the agency, including within the Astronaut Office in Houston and as a liaison between that office and others. The Artemis astronaut cadre also includes four women who have not yet flown in space. Nicole Mann joined the astronaut corps in 2013 with Koch and Meir. Mann has been focused on the commercial crew program and is currently training for her first flight, which will be the first crewed flight of Boeing's Starliner capsule to the International Space Station, scheduled to take place next year. Before becoming an astronaut, she was in the Marine Corps and flew in Iraq and Afghanistan. Kayla Barron is a member of the newest astronaut class; before joining NASA, she served in the Navy. She also completed graduate research focused on nuclear reactors. Barron's classmate, Jasmin Moghbeli, who was also selected to join the Artemis astronaut cadre, served in the Marine Corps, including in Afghanistan and California. Throughout her military service, she flew primarily helicopters. Last of the new Artemis announcements is Jessica Watkins, who also just completed astronaut training in 2019. Before joining NASA, she was a geologist focusing on Mars and worked as part of the team behind NASA's Curiosity rover that has been exploring the Red Planet since 2012. Watkins has also participated in a Mars analog mission at the Mars Desert Research Station and an underwater mission as part of NASA's Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) program. Whether or when any of these women will set foot on the moon is still unclear. NASA is currently targeting a 2024 human landing, although the incoming Biden administration may slow down that timeline or redirect the agency entirely. Even if the Artemis program continues as it has been shaped, whether these astronauts remain in low Earth orbit, fly around the moon, or finally step on it remains unclear, as today's announcements do not represent formal flight assignments. Email Meghan Bartels at or follow her on Twitter @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. |
Who is the first woman to land on moon
Related Posts
Copyright © 2024 ShotOnMac Inc.
