NASA will unveil its new class of astronaut candidates on September 22, 2023, during a live-streamed event from the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The announcement will begin at 12:30 p.m. EDT (16:30 GMT; 11:30 a.m. local time) and will be accessible through multiple platforms, including NASA+, Netflix, Amazon Prime, NASA’s YouTube channel, and the agency’s X account. Space.com is also expected to simulcast the event if NASA provides the necessary stream.
The selection process for the new astronaut candidates was highly competitive, with over 8,000 applicants vying for a spot. Those chosen will undergo approximately two years of extensive training at NASA, preparing them for future missions in space.
Following the reveal of the new astronaut class, NASA has scheduled several media briefings to discuss the upcoming Artemis 2 mission, which aims to send four astronauts around the moon no earlier than April 2026. These briefings will take place on September 23 and September 24, and will also be streamed live on NASA’s YouTube channel and X account, with coverage from Space.com.
Artemis 2 Crew and Briefing Schedule
The Artemis 2 mission will feature an accomplished crew, including NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman as commander, Victor Glover as pilot, and Christina Koch as mission specialist. They will be joined by Jeremy Hansen, a mission specialist from the Canadian Space Agency. Glover is set to become the first Black astronaut to fly on a moon mission, while Koch will make history as the first woman to participate in such a mission, and Hansen will be the first non-American astronaut to venture to the moon.
The Artemis 2 briefings are scheduled as follows:
– **September 23**
– **11:00 a.m. EDT** (10:00 a.m. local time, 15:00 GMT): Mission overview briefing featuring key NASA officials including:
– Lakiesha Hawkins, Acting Deputy Associate Administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
– Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis Launch Director, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
– Judd Frieling, Lead Artemis 2 Ascent Flight Director, NASA Johnson
– Jeff Radigan, Lead Artemis 2 Flight Director, NASA Johnson
– Rick Henfling, Lead Artemis 2 Entry Flight Director, NASA Johnson
– Daniel Florez, Test Director, Exploration Ground Systems, NASA Kennedy
– **1:00 p.m. EDT** (12:00 p.m. local time, 17:00 GMT): Artemis 2 Science and Technology briefing featuring:
– Matt Ramsey, Artemis 2 Mission Manager, NASA Headquarters
– Debbie Korth, Deputy Orion Program Manager, NASA Johnson
– Jacob Bleacher, Manager, Science, Technology Utilization, and Integration, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
– Mark Clampin, Acting Deputy Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
– **September 24**
– **10:00 a.m. EDT** (12:00 p.m. local time, 14:00 GMT): Artemis 2 Crew news conference featuring:
– Reid Wiseman, Commander
– Victor Glover, Pilot
– Christina Koch, Mission Specialist
– Jeremy Hansen, Mission Specialist
The upcoming events mark significant steps in NASA’s ongoing efforts to advance human space exploration. As the agency prepares to announce its new astronaut class, excitement builds for the future of lunar exploration and beyond.