NASA’s New Astronaut Class Begins Rigorous Training for Future Space Missions

NASA is currently training its latest group of astronaut candidates at the Johnson Space Center in Texas. This extensive training program, spanning almost two years, commenced in September and includes four men and six women selected as part of Astronaut Group 24.

Among the candidates is Anna Menon, who previously participated in the SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission. In a recent interview with NASASpaceflight.com, Menon expressed her excitement about being part of this new astronaut class. “I pinched myself when I found out that I got to join this class and get to return to the team here at NASA,” she remarked, highlighting her enthusiasm about her selection.

Prior to her recruitment into the astronaut corps, Menon spent seven years as a biomedical flight controller for the International Space Station (ISS) program. During her tenure, she played an important role in overseeing astronaut health and led operations for the Expedition 47/48 crew, which included two spacewalks. Reflecting on her previous experience, Menon stated, “It’s been great having that perspective and bringing that into the work we do now,” emphasizing how her past roles have equipped her for the challenges ahead.

The subject of astronaut health has been particularly relevant recently due to the early return of the Crew-11 astronauts for medical reasons. Menon, drawing on her expertise in monitoring the well-being of crew members during long-duration space missions, highlighted the advancements made in understanding human responses to space travel. “There is a lot that goes into keeping a human healthy and happy in that austere environment,” she noted, while also acknowledging the ongoing research that aims to improve human survival and performance in space.

Menon holds the distinction of being the first astronaut selected by NASA who had already earned her commercial astronaut wings. Her previous work with SpaceX involved developing the crew capabilities of the Dragon spacecraft, where she served as a Crew Operations and Resource Engineer. She further solidified her credentials by flying on the Polaris Dawn mission alongside a crew that included current NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.

Despite her flight experience, Menon insists that her prior knowledge will not exempt her from rigorous astronaut training. “I would just say that everything’s been additive,” she explained. “There’s a fantastic team of experts here at NASA that I’m really excited to learn from.”

The training for this astronaut class is comprehensive, covering skills essential for future missions. Over the next year and a half, candidates will participate in activities ranging from underwater spacewalk simulations in the training pool to robotics training and flying in jets to master crew resource management.

With the ISS projected to be decommissioned in roughly five years, the window of opportunity for this group to fly to the station is narrowing. Nevertheless, Menon remains dedicated to her goals, asserting, “My goal is to serve my country and serve NASA in the best of my abilities.” She expressed her readiness to embrace whatever mission NASA assigns to her.

Reflecting on her experiences in both supporting missions on the ground and flying in space, Menon underscored the critical nature of communication between teams in space and on Earth. “I remember being in space and feeling so grateful for that bridge,” she recounted, emphasizing the crucial support provided by ground personnel.

For aspiring astronauts, Menon has motivational advice: “Pursue the things that you love and that you’re passionate about.” She encouraged people to follow their dreams and passions, believing that dedication leads to fulfillment and opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the world.

As this astronaut group progresses through their training, their commitment to advancing human space exploration continues to grow, with hopes of pushing boundaries further than ever before.