NASA introduces its 10 newest astronauts

By MARCIA DUNN, Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA introduced its newest astronauts Monday, 10 scientists, engineers and test pilots chosen from more than 8,000 applicants to help explore the moon and possibly Mars .

For the first time, there were more women than men in a NASA astronaut class. They included a geologist who worked on NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover, a SpaceX engineer who flew on a billionaire-sponsored spaceflight that featured the world’s first private spacewalk and a former SpaceX launch director.

The group will undergo two years of training before becoming eligible for spaceflight . Acting Administrator Sean Duffy said one of them could become the first person to step on Mars.

It is the 24th astronaut class for NASA since the original Mercury Seven