iss066m263401729_2021_Astronaut_Candidate_Selection_211206

After evaluating more than 12,000 applications, NASA introduced its 2021 astronaut candidates in an event Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, held at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The astronaut candidates were joined by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche, and Flight Operations Director Norm Knight on stage for the announcement. Following graduation, which requires about two years of training, astronaut candidates could receive assignments for missions performing research aboard the International Space Station, launching from American soil on spacecraft built by commercial companies, and launching on deep space missions on NASA’s Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket.The astronaut candidates will report to NASA Johnson in January to begin their training in spacecraft systems, spacewalking skills, teamwork, and other necessary skills. These women and men were selected after completing their applications in March 2020 for a chance to join NASA’s astronaut corps and take part in America’s human spaceflight program. Requirements to apply included U.S. citizenship, a master’s degree from an accre