On August 3, Nasa named the first nine astronauts who will fly to space on Boeing and SpaceX vehicles in 2019 – a mix of novices and veterans.
These are:
Robert ‘Bob’ Behnken, 48
SpaceX Crew Dragon test crew member
Is a U.S. Air Force colonel
Was chief of the Astronaut Office, the highest leadership role
Has a bachelor’s physics and mechanical Engineering from Washington University and a master’s and doctorate in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology
Eric Boe, 53
Boeing Starliner test crew member
Born in Miami
Is a U.S. Air Force colonel and member of the Texas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol
Has a bachelor’s in astronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, and a master’s in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology
Enjoys outdoor sports, reading, scuba diving, and skiing
Josh Cassada, 45
Boeing Starliner first mission member
Grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota
Is a U.S. Navy commander and test pilot with more than 3,500 flight hours
Will be taking his first trip to space
Has a bachelor’s in physics from Albion College and a master’s and doctorate in physics with a specialty in high-energy particle physics from the University of Rochester
Chris Ferguson, 56
Boeing Starliner test crew member
Born in Philadelphia
Is Boeing’s director of Starliner Crew and Mission Systems
Retired from the Navy as a captain and pilot; also a former shuttle astronaut
Has a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Drexel University and a masters of science in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School
Enjoys golf, woodworking, running; and played drums for Max Q, a rock and roll band
Victor Glover, 42
SpaceX Crew Dragon first mission
Is from Pomona, California
Is a U.S. Navy commander and test pilot with almost 3,000 hours flying
Has made 400 carrier landings and has flown 24 combat missions
Has a bachelor’s in general engineering from California Polytechnic State University and a master’s in flight test engineering from Air University as well as a master’s systems engineering from Naval Postgraduate School and a master’s of military operational art and science from Air University
Michael Hopkins, 49
SpaceX Crew Dragon first mission member
Born in Lebanon, Missouri
Is a U.S. Air Force colonel and flight test engineer
Has spent 166 days on the International Space Station for expeditions 37 and 38 and conducted two spacewalks
Has a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois and a master’s in aerospace engineering from Stanford University
Douglas Hurley, 51
SpaceX Crew Dragon test crew
From Apalachin, New York
Is a U.S. Marine Corps colonel
Piloted the final space shuttle mission, Atlantis’ STS-135, as well as Endeavor’s STS-127
Has a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Tulane University
Nicole Aunapu Mann, 41
Boeing Starliner test crew member
From Penngrove, California
Is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps and F/A-18 test pilot with more than 2,500 flight hours
Will be taking her first trip to space
Has a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and a master’s in mechanical engineering with a specialty in fluid mechanics
Sunita Williams, 52
Boeing Starliner first mission
Is from Needham, Massachusetts
Is a U.S. Navy captain and test pilot
Has spent 322 days aboard the International Space Station for expeditions 14 and 15 and expeditions 32 and 33 and performed seven spacewalks
Has a bachelor’s physical science from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Florida Institute of Technology
(L-R) Bob Behnken, Doug Hurley, Mike Hopkins and Victor Glover, the Nasa astronauts chosen for the Commercial Crew Program to fly on the SpaceX Crew Dragon