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Nasa's New Astronaut Class Could Take Humanity To An Asteroid - And Mars (PICTURES)

Meet The New NASA Astronauts Who May Take Humanity To Mars
Michael Rundle
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Nasa has selected its next class of astronauts, indicating that they may be the first humans to travel to Mars.

The new group of four male and four female astronaut's is Nasa's first class of astronauts to be selected in three years.

The space agency said that more than 6,100 people applied for the position, and that they had undergone exceptionally tough training and scrutiny before being selected.

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Above: Nasa's new astronaut class

The class includes the highest-ever percentage of female astronauts - but Nasa said that was not by design.

Nasa hopes the group will "help the agency push the boundaries of exploration and travel to new destinations in the solar system".

But their selection does not guarantee a spot on a space mission, and Nasa is still reliant on new funding and technology to successfully carry out manned exploration of an asteroid, and then of Mars.

But the space agency is hopeful that its new astronauts will be able to go further than previous explorers.

"These new space explorers asked to join Nasa because they know we're doing big, bold things here - developing missions to go farther into space than ever before," said Nasa Administrator Charles Bolden.

"They're excited about the science we're doing on the International Space Station and our plan to launch from U.S. soil to there on spacecraft built by American companies. And they're ready to help lead the first human mission to an asteroid and then on to Mars."

Nasa's New Astronauts
(01 of08)
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This photo provided by NASA shows Jessica U. Meir. NASA has eight new astronauts _ its first new batch in four years. Meir, Ph.D., 35, is from Caribou, Maine. She is a graduate of Brown University, has an advanced degree from the International Space University, and earned her doctorate from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Meir currently is an Assistant Professor of Anesthesia at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. (AP Photo/NASA) (credit:AP)
(02 of08)
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This photo provided by NASA shows Anne C. McClain. NASA has eight new astronauts _ its first new batch in four years. McClain is one of the candidates. McClain, 34, Major, U.S. Army, lists her hometown as Spokane, Wash. She is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.; the University of Bath and the University of Bristol, both in the United Kingdom. McClain is an OH-58 helicopter pilot, and a recent graduate of U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Naval Air Station, Patuxent River. (AP Photo/NASA) (credit:AP)
(03 of08)
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This photo provided by NASA shows Christina M. Hammock. NASA has eight new astronauts _ its first new batch in four years. Hammock is one of the candidates. Hammock, 34, calls Jacksonville, N.C. home. Hammock holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from North Carolina State University, in Raleigh, N.C. She currently is serving as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Station Chief in American Samoa. (AP Photo/NASA) (credit:AP)
(04 of08)
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This photo provided by NASA shows Tyler N. "Nick" Hague. NASA has eight new astronauts _ its first new batch in four years. Hague, 37, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Air Force, calls Hoxie, Kan., home. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards, Calif. Hague currently is supporting the Department of Defense as Deputy Chief of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization. (AP Photo/NASA) (credit:AP)
(05 of08)
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This photo provided by NASA shows Victor J. Glover. NASA has eight new astronauts _ its first new batch in four years. Glover, 37, Lt. Commander, U.S. Navy, hails from Pomona, Calif., and Prosper, Texas. He is an F/A-18 pilot and graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. Glover holds degrees from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Calif.; Air University and Naval Postgraduate School. He currently is serving as a Navy Legislative Fellow in the U.S. Congress. (AP Photo/NASA) (credit:AP)
(06 of08)
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This photo provided by NASA shows Josh A. Cassada. NASA has eight new astronauts _ its first new batch in four years. Cassada, originally from White Bear Lake, Minn., is one of the candidates. Cassada is a former naval aviator who holds an undergraduate degree from Albion College, and advanced degrees from the University of Rochester, N.Y. Cassada is a physicist by training and currently is serving as co-founder and Chief Technology Officer for Quantum Opus. (AP Photo/NASA) (credit:AP)
(07 of08)
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This photo provided by NASA shows Nicole Aunapu Mann. NASA has eight new astronauts _ its first new batch in four years. Mann is one of the candidates. Mann, 35, Major, U.S. Marine Corps, originally is from Penngrove, Calif. She is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Stanford (Calif.) University and the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Patuxent River, Md. Mann is an F/A 18 pilot, currently serving as an Integrated Product Team Lead at the U.S. Naval Air Station, Patuxent River. (AP Photo/NASA) (credit:AP)
(08 of08)
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This photo provided by NASA shows Andrew R. Morgan. NASA has eight new astronauts _ its first new batch in four years. Morgan, a medical doctor, 37, Major, U.S. Army, considers New Castle, Pa., home. Morgan is a graduate of The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and earned doctorate in medicine from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md. He has experience as an emergency physician and flight surgeon for the Army special operations community, and currently is completing a sports medicine fellowship. (AP Photo/NASA) (credit:AP)

The team of eight is made up of the following personnel:

  • Josh A. Cassada, 39 -- a former naval aviator, physicist by training and currently co-founder and Chief Technology Officer for Quantum Opus.

  • Victor J. Glover, 37, Lt. Commander, US Navy. An F/A-18 pilot and graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. Currently is serving as a Navy Legislative Fellow in the U.S. Congress.

  • Tyler N. Hagu, 37, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Air Force. Graduate of the US Air Force Academy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.

  • Christina M. Hammock, 34,. Currently serving as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Station Chief in American Samoa.

  • Nicole Aunapu Mann, 35, Major, US Marine Corps. An F/A 18 pilot, currently serving as an Integrated Product Team Lead at the US Naval Air Station, Patuxent River.

  • Anne C. McClain, 34, Major, US Army. An OH-58 helicopter pilot, and a recent graduate of US Naval Test Pilot School at Naval Air Station, Patuxent River.

  • Jessica U. Meir, Ph.D., 35, has an advanced degree from the International Space University, and earned her doctorate from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Currently is an Assistant Professor of Anesthesia at Harvard Medical School.

  • Andrew R. Morgan, M.D., 37, Major, US Army. Has experience as an emergency physician and flight surgeon for the Army special operations community, and currently is completing a sports medicine fellowship.
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