While most of the astronaut candidates have advanced degrees, their contributions span a range of roles in the aerospace and defense sectors, including test piloting, engineering, and medical support in space exploration.
Each individual brings significant professional experience from their respective fields. Most are either graduates of military or test pilot schools or have extensive flight hours.
The class consists of 10 individuals, including an Army experimental test pilot, a geologist who worked on the Curiosity Mars rover and the Artemis III science team, an Air Force major and test pilot, an Air Force test pilot and weapons officer, a launch director and engineering executive, a former NOAA Hurricane Hunter and Naval aviator, a trailblazer who flew to space as a SpaceX engineer on the Polaris Dawn mission, an anesthesiologist, a Navy lieutenant commander and test pilot, and a former flight test engineering director and Marine Corps test pilot.
Ben Bailey holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and is currently pursuing a master’s in systems engineering, while Lauren Edgar has degrees in Earth sciences and geology.
Several individuals, such as Yuri Kubo and Anna Menon, have worked with major space organizations like NASA and SpaceX, underscoring a shared involvement in advanced aerospace projects.
Many are experienced pilots; for instance, Adam Fuhrmann has logged over 2,100 flight hours, while Cameron Jones has more than 1,600. The flight experience among them varies in terms of aircraft types, combat hours, and roles.
Erin Overcash, for example, has considerable flying hours in the F/A-18 Super Hornet, and Katherine Spies has experience serving as both a pilot and a test pilot.
Imelda Muller specializes in medical support for diving and anesthesia, while Lauren Edgar focuses on geological aspects of space missions.
Anna Menon recently flew into space as a mission specialist and medical officer, highlighting the various roles present in the aerospace field.
Medical and health-related experience is particularly prominent in Imelda Muller and Erin Overcash, in contrast to those with a greater focus on engineering and piloting.
Individuals such as Lauren Edgar and Anna Menon have dedicated significant time to research and support roles within NASA. In contrast, others, such as Yuri Kubo, have a more direct industry focus, working with companies like SpaceX.
The military backgrounds among these individuals also vary; some, such as Katherine Spies and Cameron Jones, have served actively in the military, while others, like Lauren Edgar and Anna Menon, have primarily academic and research backgrounds.
Erin Overcash has hands-on experience in aircraft operations and military settings, while Lauren Edgar has concentrated on planetary geology and Mars exploration.
Imelda Muller’s role is distinct from the others, as it emphasizes medical support in both underwater and space environments, indicating a more specialized niche within the group.
.@NASA’s 10 new astronaut candidates were introduced Monday following a competitive selection process of more than 8,000 applicants from across the United States. https://t.co/V0aA9KXT3L pic.twitter.com/oFrRfr6T7x
— NASA's Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) September 22, 2025
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