NASA is returning to the Moon under the Artemis program. Today, the space agency published an exciting video and announced the next lunar landing astronaut candidates. One of them will be the first woman on the Moon.
With Artemis, NASA is going to Moon again – this time, to stay
Transcript of the video:
At NASA, we have always answered the innate call to go. Now, we’re returning to the Moon under the Artemis program to learn to live and work on another world for the benefit of humanity.
With Artemis, we are going to stay. Proving that humanity can live on the Moon, Mars, and other worlds and share the wonders of the Solar System with all.
Our story is one of the people all those who make this journey possible, from advocates across communities to companies across industries, to countries around the world, we achieve this collective endeavor.
Our efforts create an impact for all. Technologies that revolutionize industries and jobs that bring prosperity to people.
The discoveries from space benefit the way we live on Earth today. And those from the Moon will create a better future for generations to come.
But to do that, we must go.
NASA’s Artemis Team Astronauts – one of them will be the first woman on the Moon
The first woman to go to the Moon is planned for 2024, as part of the Artemis program. Here are the astronauts of NASA’s Artemis Team, sorted by last names:
- Joseph Acaba
- Kayla Barron
- Raja Chari
- Matthew Dominick
- Victor Glover
- Warren Hoburg
- Jonny Kim
- Christina H. Koch
- Kjell Lindgren
- Nicole A. Mann
- Anne McClain
- Jessica Meir
- Jasmin Moghbeli
- Kate Rubins
- Frank Rubio
- Scott Tingle
- Jessica Watkins
- Stephanie Wilson
9 of the 18 selected astronauts are women. One of them will be the first woman on the Moon!
Joseph Acaba
Experience
Acaba was a member of the United States Marine Corps, Reserves. He worked as a hydro-geologist in Los Angeles, California, primarily on Superfund sites, and was involved in the assessment and remediation of groundwater contaminants. He spent two years in the United States Peace Corps as an Environmental Education Awareness Promoter in the Dominican Republic.
He was also the manager of the Caribbean Marine Research Center at Lee Stocking Island in the Exumas, Bahamas. Prior to arriving at NASA, he taught one year of high school science at Melbourne High School, Florida, and four years of middle school math and science at Dunnellon Middle School, Florida.
NASA Experience
Selected as a mission specialist by NASA in May 2004. In February 2006, he completed astronaut candidate training that included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in the space shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training. Upon completion of his training, Acaba was assigned to the Hardware Integration Team in the Space Station Branch, working on technical issues with European Space Agency (ESA) hardware.
He was also a member of the Space Shuttle Branch, supporting shuttle launch and landing preparations at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Acaba served as the Branch Chief of the International Space Station Operations branch, which is responsible for mission preparation and on-orbit support of space station crews. Most recently, Acaba recently served as Director of Operations Russia in Star City supporting crew training in Soyuz and Russian Segment systems.
Spaceflight Experience
STS-119 (March 15 to March 28, 2009): This was the 125th space shuttle flight, the 36th flight of Discovery, and the 28th shuttle flight to the International Space Station. The primary objective of this flight was to deliver the final pair of power-generating solar array wings and truss element to the International Space Station. Acaba accumulated 12 hours and 57 minutes of Extravehicular Activity (EVA) in two spacewalks. STS-119 returned to land at the Kennedy Space Center, having traveled 202 orbits and 5.3 million statute miles in 12 days, 19 hours, and 29 minutes.
Expedition 31/32 (May 15 through September 17, 2012): Acaba launched on May 15, 2012, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin of the Russian Federal Space Agency and Acaba landed their Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft in Kazakhstan on September 17, 2012. Acaba spent 123 days aboard the station as a Flight Engineer of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews.
Acaba supported the arrival of the first commercial resupply spacecraft, SpaceX’s Dragon, in late May; and was the prime robotic arm operator for the capture and release of the third Japanese cargo ship, HTV3. Acaba served as an intra-vehicular crew member and robotic arm operator for two U.S.-based spacewalks, helping to restore a critical power unit and exchange a faulty camera on the station’s robotic arm.
Acaba also participated in numerous scientific research experiments and performed regular maintenance and operational tasks aboard the orbiting complex.
Expedition 53/54 (September 13 through February 28, 2018): The crew launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard the Soyuz spacecraft. Acaba, who served as Flight Engineer, was joined by Astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Russian Cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos.
During the mission the crew marked the beginning of the first long-term increase in crew size on the U.S. segment, enabling NASA to double the time dedicated to research and achieve a record-setting week of research that surpassed 100 hours. Highlights from this research include investigations into the manufacturing of fiber optic filaments in microgravity, improving the accuracy of an implantable glucose biosensor, and measuring the Sun’s energy input to Earth.
As of December 2020, Acaba completed one spacewalk to lubricate an end effector and install new cameras on the station’s arm and truss. Acaba has logged a total of 306 days in space on three flights.
Kayla Barron
Experience
Barron was commissioned as a Navy officer in 2010 and immediately attended graduate school. Her graduate research focused on modeling the fuel cycle for a next-generation, thorium-fueled nuclear reactor concept.
Following graduate school, Barron attended the U.S. Navy’s nuclear power and submarine officer training before being assigned to the USS Maine, an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine homeported in Bangor, Washington.
Barron qualified as a submarine warfare officer and completed three strategic deterrent patrols while serving as a division officer aboard the USS Maine. At the time of her selection, Barron was serving as the Flag Aide to the Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy.
NASA Experience
Barron reported for duty in August 2017 and completed two years of training as an Astronaut Candidate. She is currently awaiting flight assignment.
Awards/Honors
Awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various unit commendations. Trident Scholar and Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Naval Academy. Gates Cambridge Scholar.
Raja Chari
Experience
At the time of his selection in June 2017, Chari was a Colonel select in the U.S. Air Force, serving as the Commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron and the Director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force. He has accumulated more than 2,000 hours of flight time in the F-35, F-15, F-16, and F-18 including F-15E combat missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployments in support of the Korean peninsula.
NASA Experience
Chari reported for duty in August 2017 and completed two years of training as an Astronaut Candidate. He is currently awaiting flight assignment.
Awards/Honors
Awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, an Iraq Campaign Medal, a Korean Defense Service Medal, and the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal. Named distinguished graduate from the US Air Force Academy, Undergraduate Pilot Training, and the F-15E Formal Training Unit.
Matthew Dominick
Experience
Dominick was commissioned through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) following graduation from the University of San Diego in 2005 and reported to Pensacola, Florida, for flight training. He was designated as a Naval Aviator in 2007 and reported to Strike Fighter Squadron 106, Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, for transition to the F/A 18E Super Hornet.
Following his initial training, Dominick was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 143. He made two deployments to the North Arabian Sea, flying close air support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
While with Strike Fighter Squadron 143, Dominick was selected to attend the Naval Postgraduate School / U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Co-Operative Program, where he earned a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the Naval Post Graduate School and graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.
Designated a developmental test pilot in 2013, Dominick was assigned to the fixed wing carrier suitability flight test department of Air Test Evaluation Squadron 23. There he served as developmental flight test project officer for a variety of carrier suitability test programs, including MAGIC CARPET, Joint Precision Approach & Landing Systems, Infrared Search and Track Pod, and the precision approach and landing certification of aircraft carriers. He flew developmental flight tests in the F/A-18ABCD, F/A-18E/F, and EA-18G.
Additionally, he contributed to X-47B, Unmanned Carrier Launched Surveillance and Strike, V 22, T-45, E-2C, C-2A, and F-35C test programs. In 2016, Dominick returned to an operational naval squadron, Strike Fighter Squadron 115, flying F/A-18E Super Hornets in the Forward Deployed Naval Forces stationed in Atsugi, Japan.
At the time of his selection as an Astronaut Candidate in June 2017, Dominick was at sea on the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) serving in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviator and a department head for Strike Fighter Squadron 115. He has accumulated more than 1,600 flight hours in 28 aircraft models, 400 carrier arrestments, 61 combat missions, and nearly 200 flight test carrier landings (arrested and touch-and-go).
NASA Experience
Dominick reported for duty in August 2017 and completed two years of training as an Astronaut Candidate. He is currently awaiting flight assignment.
Awards/Honors
2015 Naval Test Wing Atlantic Test Pilot of the Year; Member of the 2015 Department of the Navy Test Team of the Year; Strike Flight Air Medal (three awards); Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal; and Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards).
Victor Glover
Experience
Following commissioning, Glover began preflight training in Pensacola, Florida, and completed his advanced flight training in Kingsville, Texas, earning his wings of gold on December 14, 2001.
In 2002, Glover reported to the Marine Fleet Replacement Squadron, VMFAT‐101, in Miramar, California. In 2003, after completing the F/A‐18C syllabus, he was assigned to the Blue Blasters of Strike Fighter Squadron VFA‐34 in Oceana, Virginia.
With the Blue Blasters, he completed the final deployment of the USS John F. Kennedy (CV‐67) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While deployed, he completed a Space Systems Certificate from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS).
Glover was then selected as the United States Navy’s exchange pilot to attend the Air Force Test Pilot School. During the one‐year experimental test piloting course, he flew more than 30 aircraft in the U.S. and Italy. On June 9, 2007, he was designated a test pilot.
Glover then served as a test pilot with the Dust Devils of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron VX‐31 in China Lake, California, testing various weapons systems on the F/A ‐ 18 Hornet, Super Hornet and EA‐18G Growler. In his off‐duty hours, he earned a Master of Science degree in Systems Engineering via NPS in Monterey, California.
In 2009, Glover received orders to the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Following graduation, Glover reported to the Dambusters of Strike Fighter Squadron VFA‐195, in Atsugi, Japan, where he served as a Department Head. With the Dambusters, he deployed three times to various locations in the Pacific Ocean.
In 2012, Glover was selected for the Legislative Fellowship. He reported to the Office of Legislative Affairs in Washington, D.C., and was assigned to the office of a U.S. Senator. While in Washington D.C., he completed a Certificate in Legislative Studies at Georgetown University. Glover was a Legislative Fellow in the U.S. Senate when selected as an astronaut candidate.
Glover accumulated 3,000 flight hours in more than 40 aircraft, over 400 carrier arrested landings and 24 combat missions.
NASA Experience
Glover was selected in 2013 as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class. In 2015, he completed Astronaut Candidate Training, including scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, spacewalks, robotics, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training.
Glover is currently serving as pilot and second-in-command on the Crew-1 SpaceX Crew Dragon, named Resilience, which launched November 15, 2020. He will also serve as Flight Engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 64.
Awards/Honors
Ontario High School 1994 athlete of the year; Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Service to the Community Award and community service notation on transcripts; Distinguished Graduate and Regimental Commander, U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School; Onizuka Prop Wash Award, United States Air Force Test Pilot School; Distinguished Graduate, Air Command and Staff College; Named one of Jet Magazine’s inaugural 40 under 40 in 2013. Military decorations include a Navy Commendation Medal and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.
Warren Hoburg
Experience
At the time of his selection in June 2017, Hoburg was an assistant professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT, where he taught undergraduate courses on Dynamics and Flight Vehicle Engineering. Hoburg’s research focused on efficient methods for design of engineering systems. His group produced and maintains the open-source software tool GPkit, which is a Python package for geometric programming.
His group’s tools were used to design a five-day endurance UAV currently under development for the US Air Force. Prior to MIT, he worked for Boeing Commercial Airplanes Product Development on software for composite manufacturing processes. From 2010-2013, he was a seasonal member of Yosemite Search and Rescue and an Operations Leader for the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit.
NASA Experience
Hoburg reported for duty in August 2017 and completed two years of training as an Astronaut Candidate. He is currently awaiting flight assignment.
Awards/Honors
He is a two-time recipient of the AIAA Aeronautics and Astronautics Teaching Award in recognition of outstanding teaching at MIT. From 2009-2013 he was a National Science Foundation graduate research fellow. Class of 2020 AIAA Associate Fellow.
Jonny Kim
Experience
Kim enlisted in the Navy as a Seaman recruit after graduating high school in 2002. After completion of Hospital Corpsman “A” school training, he reported to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, CA.
After completing his training at Naval Special Warfare, Kim reported to John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School in Fort Bragg, NC, for the Special Operations Combat Medic Course. He was assigned as a Special Warfare Operator to SEAL Team THREE Charlie Platoon in San Diego, California, and obtained various qualifications including Military Freefall Parachutist, Combatant Diver (closed circuit rebreather), Naval Special Warfare Special Reconnaissance Scout and Sniper, and Advanced Special Operations Techniques.
Kim served as a Special Operations Combat Medic, sniper, navigator, and point man on more than 100 combat operations spanning two deployments to the Middle East including Ramadi and Sadr City, Iraq. He was commissioned as a naval officer through the Navy’s enlisted-to-officer commissioning program, Seaman to Admiral-21, following graduation from the University of San Diego in 2012.
Upon graduation from Harvard Medical School in 2016, Kim began his medical internship with Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency. At the time of his astronaut selection in June 2017, Kim was a resident physician in emergency medicine with Partners Healthcare at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Kim remains on active duty as a Navy Lieutenant at NASA.
NASA Experience
Kim reported for duty in August 2017 and completed two years of training as an Astronaut Candidate. Training included technical and operational instruction in International Space Station systems, Extravehicular Activities (EVA) Operations, T-38 flight training, robotics, physiological training, expeditionary training, field geology, water and wilderness survival training, and Russian language proficiency training. He will be assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office while he awaits flight assignment.
Awards/Honors
Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V”, Combat Action Ribbon, and various campaign and service awards.
Christina H. Koch
Experience
Christina Koch’s career prior to becoming an astronaut spanned two general areas: space science instrument development and remote scientific field engineering. Her career began as an Electrical Engineer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics, where she contributed to scientific instruments on several NASA space science missions.
Koch then became a Research Associate in the United States Antarctic Program from 2004 to 2007. This included a yearlong stay with a winter-over at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and a season at Palmer Station. While in this role, she served as a member of the Firefighting and Search and Rescue Teams. From 2007 to 2009, Koch returned to space science instrument development as an Electrical Engineer at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory’s Space Department.
She contributed to instruments studying radiation for NASA missions, including Juno and the Van Allen Probes. In 2010, Koch returned to remote scientific fieldwork with tours including Palmer Station in Antarctica and multiple winter seasons at Summit Station in Greenland.
In 2012, Koch continued work at remote scientific bases with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She served as a Field Engineer at NOAA’s Global Monitoring Division Baseline Observatory in Utqiagvik, Alaska, and then as Station Chief of the American Samoa Observatory. Throughout her career, she was involved in technical instructing, volunteer tutoring, and educational outreach.
NASA Experience
Koch participated in the NASA Academy program at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in 2001 and worked as an Electrical Engineer at GSFC from 2002 to 2004. Koch was selected in June 2013 as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class.
Her Astronaut Candidate Training included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station (ISS) systems, plus training and certification in spacewalking, ISS robotics, T-38, and T-6 aircraft flight, and Russian language. In 2018, she was assigned to her first space flight, a long-duration mission on the International Space Station.
Koch was a part of ISS Expeditions 59, 60, and 61. She launched on March 14, 2019, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on a Soyuz spacecraft with NASA Astronaut Nick Hague and Russian Cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin.
She returned to Earth on February 6, 2020, on a Soyuz spacecraft with ESA Astronaut Luca Parmitano and Russian Cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov. The crews she served on contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, Earth science, human research, physical sciences, and technology development.
Some of the scientific highlights from her missions include improvements to the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, which studies dark matter, growing protein crystals for pharmaceutical research, and testing 3D biological printers to print tissues in microgravity.
As of December 2020, Koch conducted six spacewalks, including the first three all-women spacewalks, totaling 42 hours and 15 minutes. She has spent a total of 328 days in space.
Awards/Honors
Astronautics Engineer Award, National Space Club & Foundation, 2020; Global ATHENA Leadership Award, ATHENA International, 2020, NASA Group Achievement Award, NASA Juno Mission Jupiter Energetic Particle Detector Instrument, 2012; Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Invention of the Year nominee, 2009; United States Congress Antarctic Service Medal with Winter-Over distinction, 2005; NASA Group Achievement Award, NASA Suzaku Mission X-ray Spectrometer Instrument, 2005.
Kjell Lindgren
Experience
At the U.S. Air Force Academy, Lindgren was a member of the “Wings of Blue” parachute team, where he served as an instructor, a jumpmaster, and a member of the academy’s intercollegiate national championship team.
As a part of his masters’ studies at CSU, Lindgren conducted cardiovascular countermeasure research in the Space Physiology Lab at NASA Ames Research Center in Sunnyvale, California. He conducted high‐altitude physiology research during medical school.
Lindgren began working at Johnson Space Center in 2007. As a Wyle‐University of Texas Medical Branch flight surgeon, he supported International Space Station training and operations in Star City, Russia, and water survival training in Ukraine. At the time of his selection to the astronaut corps, he was serving as the Deputy Crew Surgeon for STS‐130 and Expedition 24.
NASA Experience
Lindgren was selected in June 2009 as one of nine members of the 20th NASA astronaut class. Following the completion of two years of training and evaluation, he was assigned technical duties in the Spacecraft Communicator (CAPCOM) branch and the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) branch. Lindgren served as lead CAPCOM for Expedition 30.
Spaceflight Experience
Expedition 44/45 (July 2015 to December 2015). Along with crewmates Russian Space Agency cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko and Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, Lindgren launched on the Soyuz TMA‐17M (callsign Antares) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on July 23, 2015, and docked to the station after four orbits.
hey joined Expedition 44 crewmembers Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka and “One Year Mission” crew members NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko.
During their 141 days aboard the station, the Antares crew participated in more than a hundred different scientific experiments including research in human physiology, fluid and combustion physics, Earth and space science, and technology development.
Their research included work with the “Veggie” lettuce experiment which represented the first time a U.S. crew has eaten a crop grown in orbit. The crew conducted dozens of repairs and enhancements to the station’s systems, including the installation of the NORS high-pressure gas replenishment system and internal cabling in preparation for the commercial crew vehicle docking and the Node 1 galley.
Lindgren and Expedition 45 Commander Scott Kelly conducted two spacewalks in late 2015. During their first spacewalk, Lindgren installed a thermal blanket on the Alpha‐Magnetic Spectrometer and routed external cables, while Kelly performed maintenance on the station robotic arm. Their second spacewalk focused on the maintenance of the space station’s external thermal control system.
Lindgren, Yui, and Kononenko landed their Soyuz spacecraft in Kazakhstan on December 11, 2015.
As of December 2020, he has logged 141 days in space and 15 hours and four minutes of spacewalk time.
Awards/Honors
NASA Distinguished Service Medal (2016); NASA Space Flight Medal (2016); NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal (2013); UTMB Outstanding Resident Award (2008); Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Air Force Primary Flight Surgeon Course (2007); William K. Douglas Aerospace Medicine Scholarship (2007); Hippocrates Award, University of Colorado School of Medicine (2002); Richard C. Hardin Award, University of Colorado School of Medicine (2001); Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society (2001); Edgar and Marion Adler Scholar, University of Colorado School of Medicine (2001, 2002); U.S. Air Force Achievement Medal (1998).
Nicole A. Mann
Experience
Mann was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1999. Following graduate school, she completed The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia, and reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, for flight training in 2001.
She earned her wings of gold as a Naval Aviator in 2003 and reported to VFA-106 for fleet training in the F/A-18C.
She began her operational flying career in 2004 with the Thunderbolts of VMFA-251 based out of Beaufort, South Carolina. During this assignment, she deployed twice with CVW-1 aboard the USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) and flew combat missions in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM.
Upon return from her second deployment, Mann reported to the United States Naval Test Pilot School, Class 135, at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. In June 2009, she began her Developmental Test tour at Air Test and Evaluation Squadron TWO THREE (VX-23) as an F/A-18 Test Pilot/Project Officer. While at VX-23, Mann executed a variety of flight tests, including loads envelope expansion, flying qualities, carrier suitability, and ordnance separation in the F/A-18A-F.
In the spring of 2011, Mann assumed duties as the VX-23 Operations Officer. In July 2012, Mann was assigned to PMA-281 as the Joint Mission Planning System – Expeditionary (JMPS-E) Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead when she was selected as an astronaut candidate. She has accumulated more than 2,500 flight hours in 25 types of aircraft, 200 carrier arrestments, and 47 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
NASA Experience
Mann was selected in June 2013 as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class. Her Astronaut Candidate Training included intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, Spacewalks, Russian language training, robotics, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training.
She completed Astronaut Candidate training in July 2015. She has served as the T-38 Safety and Training Officer and most recently completed a tour as the Assistant to the Chief for Exploration. She led the astronaut corps in the development of the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS), and Exploration Ground Systems (EGS). She is currently training for the crew flight test of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, the first crewed flight for that vehicle.
Awards/Honors
Awarded two Air Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various unit commendations. Trident Scholar, Academic All-American (soccer), Distinguished Graduate – U.S. Naval Academy, Honor Graduate – U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Class 135, Leroy Grumman “Best Paper” Award – East Coast Society of Experimental Test Pilots Symposium, NASA 2015 Stephen D. Thorne Safety Award, and the 2017 Jerry Yeagley Award for Exceptional Personal Achievement.
Anne McClain
Experience
McClain was commissioned as an Army officer in 2002 and immediately attended graduate school. Her studies at the University of Bath focused on the unsteady aerodynamics and flow visualization of free-to-roll nonslender delta wings and her research was later published through the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
She concurrently researched the security burden in developing countries at the nearby University of Bristol.
Following graduate school, McClain earned her wings as an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scout/attack helicopter pilot. She began her operational flying career with 2nd Battalion, 6th Cavalry Regiment at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii as an Air Traffic Control Platoon Leader, Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Platoon Leader, then later Detachment Commander.
She served 15 months in Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying more than 800 combat hours on 216 combat missions as pilot-in-command and Air Mission Commander. In 2009, she attended the Aviation Captain’s Career Course and was then assigned to 1st Battalion, 14th Aviation Regiment at Fort Rucker as the battalion operations officer and OH-58D instructor.
In May 2010, she was appointed Commander of C Troop, 1st Battalion, 14th Aviation Regiment, responsible for the Army’s initial entry training, instructor pilot training, and maintenance test pilot training in the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior.
She completed Command and General Staff College and the C-12 fixed-wing multiengine qualification courses in 2011 and 2012. She then attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, graduating with Class 143 in June 2013 at the same time she was selected as a NASA astronaut candidate.
McClain is a Senior Army Aviator and has logged more than 2,000 flight hours in 20 different rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. She is a rated pilot and instructor pilot in the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior and a rated pilot in the C-12 Huron (King Air), UH-60 Blackhawk, and UH-72 Lakota.
NASA Experience
McClain was selected in June 2013 as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class. Her Astronaut Candidate Training included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, spacewalks, robotics, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training. She completed astronaut candidate training in July 2015 and is now qualified for future assignments.
Anne McClain most recently served as Flight Engineer on the International Space Station for Expeditions 58 and 59.
Spaceflight Experience
Expedition 58/59 (December 3, 2018, through June 24, 2019). The crew launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard the Soyuz spacecraft. McClain, who served as Flight Engineer, was joined by CSA Astronaut David Saint-Jacques, as well as Russian Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko.
The Expedition 59 crew contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science, and Earth science, including investigations into small devices that replicate the structure and function of human organs, editing DNA in space for the first time, and recycling 3D printed material.
McClain conducted two spacewalks totaling 13 hours and 8 minutes on her mission into space. She has spent a total of 204 days in space.
Awards/Honors
Awarded a Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with Valor, two Air Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with two Service Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and three Overseas Service Ribbons. Medals include the Combat Action Badge, Senior Aviator Badge, and Air Assault Badge.
Distinguished Honor Graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College ILE (2011). Distinguished Honor Graduate from the Army’s Captains Career Course (2009). Distinguished Honor Graduate of the Army’s Initial Entry Rotary Wing School (2006).
Graduated with distinction from the University of Bristol (2005). Marshall Scholarship (2002). Dennis Hart Mahan Memorial Award for excellence in Aeronautical Engineering (2002). National Fastpitch Coaching Association All-American Scholar-Athlete (1999 to 2002). USA Rugby Women’s National Team (2004 to 2006, and 2010 to 2012). Captain of USA Rugby South Women’s XV All-Stars (2009 to 2011).
Jessica Meir
Experience
For her doctorate research, Meir studied the diving physiology of marine mammals and birds, focusing on oxygen depletion in diving emperor penguins (Antarctic field research) and elephant seals (northern California). She investigated the high‐flying bar-headed goose during her post‐doctoral research at the University of British Columbia, training geese to fly in a wind tunnel while obtaining various physiological measurements in reduced oxygen conditions.
In 2012, Meir accepted a position as Assistant Professor at the Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital, where she continued her research on the physiology of animals in extreme environments. She also took part in Smithsonian Institution diving expeditions to the Antarctic and Belize and has been very active with scientific outreach efforts.
NASA Experience
From 2000 to 2003, Meir worked for Lockheed Martin’s Human Research Facility (NASA Johnson Space Center), supporting human physiology research on the space shuttle and International Space Station. During this time, she also participated in research flights on NASA’s reduced gravity aircraft and served as an aquanaut crew member in the Aquarius underwater habitat for the 4th NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) mission.
Meir was selected in June 2013 as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class. Her Astronaut Candidate Training included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, spacewalks, robotics, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training.
In the astronaut office, Meir has extensive Mission Control Capsule Comm