x
Breaking News
More () »

2 University of San Diego alumni, Navy veterans graduate from NASA astronaut program

NASA says both men graduated and will have duties that include ultimately going to space.

HOUSTON — Two men that called San Diego "home" have their eyes set on a land far, far away: Outer Space.

NASA confirmed that University of San Diego alumni Matthew Dominick and Dr. Jonny Kim graduated from NASA's prestigious space program in Houston on Friday, Jan. 10. Both USD alumni are members of the 2017 Astronaut Class - a group that more than 18,000 applicants reportedly wanted to be apart of, but only 11 people were accepted.

Dominick and Kim are a part of the first class to graduate since the agency announced the Artsemis program. The Artsemis Program is NASA's out-of-this-world pledge to "land the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024." The next step would be pretty ambitious - sending astronauts to Mars.

“These individuals represent the best of America, and what an incredible time for them to join our astronaut corps,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston where the graduation ceremony took place. “2020 will mark the return of launching American astronauts on American rockets from American soil, and will be an important year of progress for our Artemis program and missions to the Moon and beyond.”

According to NASA, the graduates will fulfill a variety of duties, including "ultimately join the ranks of only about 500 people who have had the honor of going into space."

It's unknown where their next mission will take them. According to NASA, some possibilities include the Moon, Mars or the International Space Station.

“I congratulate these exceptional men and women on being the first graduating class of the Artemis program,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R- Texas) said. “They are the pioneers of the final frontier whose work will help fortify America's leadership in space for generations to come. I am excited for the opportunities ahead of them, including landing the first woman ever on the surface of the Moon, and having the first boots to step on Mars.”

Like many San Diegans, both men are Navy veterans. Dominick, a U.S. Navy lieutenant commander, earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from USD in 2005. Kim is a U.S. Navy lieutenant. He grew up in SoCal and earned his bachelor's in mathematics from USD, graduating summa cum laude in 2012. Both astronauts went on to earn postgraduate degrees from other schools. 

Two astronauts from Canada will also join the new 11 NASA astronauts. 

"I could not be more proud of our alumni Matthew Dominick and Jonny Kim, recent graduates of NASA's Astronaut Training Program," said Chell Roberts, Dean of the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering at USD.

A MISSION TO MARS: Meet the 13 astronauts who could be the first humans on Mars

Before You Leave, Check This Out