Meet NASA’s New Astronaut Candidates
From over 8,000 applications, we've selected a class of 10 new astronaut candidates, whose skills and expertise will help us in our journey to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. These men and women will soon begin two years of training before they are eligible for spaceflight assignment.
Read on to meet the new recruits:
Ben Bailey
A Virginia native, Ben Bailey is an experienced Army aviator. Bailey earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from University of Virginia and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in systems engineering on the opposite U.S. coast in Monterey, California.
Dr. Lauren Edgar
Lauren Edgar was born in the nation’s capital, Washington D.C., but considers Sammamish, Washington to be her hometown. Edgar has an educational background in Earth and engineering sciences with a master’s and doctorate in geology. She has long history of contributions to NASA, including leading efforts for the Artemis III Geology Team and supporting the Mars Science Laboratory for 17 years.
Adam Fuhrmann
Adam Fuhrmann was born in Pennsylvania, but he considers Leesburg, Virginia, his hometown. Fuhrmann studied aerospace engineering and participated in the Air Force ROTC program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), then earned master’s degrees in systems and flight test engineering. Since graduation, he has completed 2,100 flight hours in 27 different aircraft in the U.S. Air Force.
Cameron Jones
An Illinois native, Cameron Jones holds master’s degrees in both aerospace and flight test engineering. While earning his bachelor’s at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Jones participated in the Air Force ROTC program. He is an experienced aviator with 1,600 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft, including more than 300 flight test hours and 150 combat hours.
Yuri Kubo
Born and raised in Indiana, Yuri Kubo worked with both NASA and SpaceX before his selection. Kubo has earned a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Purdue University, where he also served as a NASA intern. After graduation, he worked at SpaceX on a variety of different teams. Outside of work, he enjoys sports, playing piano, and spending time with his family.
Rebecca “Becky” Lawler
Hailing from Texas, Becky Lawler has an educational background in engineering. Lawler has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s in space systems engineering and flight test engineering. She is also an experienced military and civilian test pilot, accumulating 2,800 hours in over 45 different aircraft across the military, general, and commercial aviation domains. She also served as a Hurricane Hunter with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Anna Menon
Anna Menon was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and has been to space once before. She earned a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University and has worked with SpaceX. Menon flew to space in 2024 aboard SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission, setting a new female altitude record, supporting the first commercial spacewalk, and helping complete approximately 40 research experiments. In her personal life, she dedicates her time and expertise to public service and volunteering, and has a family with her husband, NASA astronaut Anil Menon.
Dr. Imelda Muller
A New York native, Dr. Imelda Muller is a medical doctor with an educational background in behavioral neurosciences. After graduating, Muller completed U.S. Navy undersea medical officer training and served as deputy Medical Department head of the U.S. Navy Experimental Diving Unit in Panama City Beach, Florida. In her personal life, she is very athletic, enjoying hiking, endurance sports, scuba diving, and competing as a triathlete.
Erin “LOFT” Overcash
Erin Overcash hails from Kentucky and is a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. Overcash earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, earned a master’s in bioastronautics, and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. She is an experienced aviator with 1,300 flight hours in 20 different aircraft, including 249 carrier-arrested landings.
Katherine Spies
A California native, Katherine Spies is a former captain in the United States Marine Corps and has a background in flight tests. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, followed by a master’s degree at Harvard University in design engineering. Following her time in the military, Spies oversaw efforts in Amazon Prime Air’s drone delivery program. In her personal life, she’s an avid outdoor adventurer and traveler.
