SAN DIEGO — The next astronauts to train to go to the moon have been named and of the 18, 4 have ties to San Diego.
NASA has selected 18 astronauts from its corps to form the Artemis Team and help pave the way for the next astronaut missions on and around the Moon as part of the Artemis program.
Jessica Mier and Kate Rubins both graduated from UC San Diego while Matthew Dominick and Jonny Kim are graduates of the University of San Diego.
Vice President Mike Pence introduced the members of the Artemis Team Wednesday during the eighth National Space Council meeting at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Pence, who is the chair of the council, discussed NASA's Artemis lunar program and spoke on the Trump administration's accomplishments in space exploration in the last four years.
“I give you the heroes who will carry us to the Moon and beyond – the Artemis Generation,” said Vice President Mike Pence. “It is amazing to think that the next man and first woman on the Moon are among the names that we just read. The Artemis Team astronauts are the future of American space exploration – and that future is bright."
These astronauts are just the first bunch selected to train for future moon missions with the Artemis program, which aims to send the first woman and the next man to the lunar surface in 2024.
- Joe Acaba
- Kayla Barron
- Raja Chari
- Matthew Dominick (University of San Diego alumni)
- Victor Glover
- Woody Hoburg
- Jonny Kim (University of San Diego alumni)
- Christina Koch
- Kjell Lindgren
- Nicole Mann
- Anne McClain
- Jessica Meir (UC San Diego alumni)
- Jasmine Moghbeli
- Kate Rubins (UC San Diego alumni)
- Frank Rubio
- Scott Tingle
- Jessica Watkins
- Stephanie Wilson
San Diego has a rich history of women in space. La Mesa native Dr. Ellen Ochoa who graduated from San Diego State was the first Latina in space. Her inspiration came from Sally Ride who was the first woman in space. The late Ride also taught physics at UCSD.
The astronauts of the Artemis Team will help NASA prepare for the coming Artemis missions, which begin next year working with the agency’s commercial partners as they develop human landing systems; assisting in the development of training; defining hardware requirements; and consulting on technical development. They also will engage the public and industry on the Artemis program and NASA’s exploration plans.
“There is so much exciting work ahead of us as we return to the moon, and it will take the entire astronaut corps to make that happen,” Chief Astronaut Pat Forrester said. “Walking on the lunar surface would be a dream come true for any one of us, and any part we can play in making that happen is an honor. I am proud of this particular group of men and women and know that any of them would do an outstanding job representing NASA and the United States on a future Artemis mission.”