NASA Announces Astronauts Going to Moon

NTD Newsroom
By NTD Newsroom
December 10, 2020NTD Evening News
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NASA has named the 18 astronauts who will train for its Artemis moon landing program—and half of them are women.

The first woman and next man on the moon will come from this elite group.

Vice President Mike Pence introduced the astronauts Wednesday at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.

“I just couldn’t be more grateful. For those of you looking on that are just now taking an interest in the program, we are beneath an Apollo Saturn 5 rocket,” said Pence.

Five of the astronauts were in attendance and walked onto the stage.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine stressed there would be more astronauts joining the group.

“Our goal is to go to the moon sustainably, to learn how to live and work on another world so that ultimately we can take all of that knowledge onto Mars,” said Bridenstine.

NASA has 47 active astronauts. Half of them have spaceflight experience.

Two are at the International Space Station right now: Kate Rubins and Victor Glover.

And the two astronauts who performed the world’s first all-female spacewalk last year also made the cut: Christina Koch and Jessica Meir.

“Really is amazing to think that the next man and the first woman on the moon are among the names that we just read. And they may be standing in the room with us right now,” said Pence.

It’s a fairly young group with most in their 30s or 40s.

The oldest is 55 and the youngest is 32.

NASA is aiming for a moon landing by 2024.

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