These 7 Service Members Could Be Headed To Space

NASA announced June 7 that it has selected a new class of 12 astronaut candidates and seven of them have served in the U.S. military. After receiving 18,300 applications, NASA narrowed the list down, and these men and women will join the elite ranks of only 338 former astronauts in U.S. history.

“These are 12 men and women whose personal excellence and whose personal courage will carry our nation to even greater heights of discovery and who I know will inspire our children and our grandchildren every bit as much as your forebears have done so in this storied American program,” said Vice President Mike Pence on June 7, when he visited Johnson Space Center. “And to this newest class of astronauts, it’s my honor to bring the sincere congratulations of the 45th President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump. Your President is proud of you, and so am I.”

These are the seven service members who have been selected.

Navy Lt. Kayla Barron

Air Force Lt. Col Raja Chari

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Dominick

Air Force Reservist Bob Hines

Navy Lt. and Dr. Jonny Kim

Marine Corps Maj. Jasmin Moghbeli

Army Maj. and Dr. Francisco “Frank” Rubio