>> THEY CAME FROM HUMBLE
BEGINNINGS, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
AND ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
ORDINARY PEOPLE, BUT THROUGH
HARD WORK, DISCIPLINE, AND
DEDICATION, THEY BECAME
EXTRAORDINARY.
THEY ARE PILOTS, SCIENTISTS,
ENGINEERS, DOCTORS.
FROM THOUSANDS OF APPLICANTS,
THESE FEW WERE CHOSEN.
THROUGH YEARS OF SLEEPLESS
NIGHTS, SACRIFICING, THEY KEEP
TRIUMPHING THROUGH YEARS.
THEY KEPT DOING IT FOR
SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, FOR YEARS
OF MANAGEMENT, TO MAKE SURE THAT
SCIENCE HAS A PATH FORWARD.
THEY REPRESENT THE OF THE BEST
OF OUR NATION.
THEY ARE NASA ASTRONAUTS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
[indiscernible]
[Cheers and Applause]
>> I'M VANESSA WHITE, DIRECTOR
OF NASAs JOHNSON SPACE CENTER,
AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ALL
HERE TO ELLINGTON FIELD FOR A
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF NASAs
NEXT ASTRONAUT CLASS.
THIS PAST NOVEMBER, WE
CELEBRATED OUR 60 ANNIVERSARY
HERE IN HOUSTON, A TREMENDOUS
MILESTONE IN THE HISTORY OF THE
U.S. SPACE PROGRAM.
JOHNSON HAS SERVED AS THE HUB
FOR AMERICA'S ASTRONAUT CORPS,
INNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
MISSION OPERATIONS, THE ORION
AND GATEWAY PROGRAMS, AND A HOST
OF OTHERS.
EVERY FEW YEARS, WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ADD TO THOSE
SELECT FEW WHO GET TO FLY IN
SPACE.
THESE NASA ASTRONAUTS WILL PLAN,
FLY, AND TRAIN MISSIONS TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND
FLY TO THE MOON UNDER ARTEMIS
AND EVENTUALLY ONTO MARS.
AND AFTER TODAY, JOHNSON WILL BE
THE NEW HOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS
WE INTRODUCE TO YOU.
MORE THAN 12,000 PEOPLE APPLIED
TO BE A PART OF THIS ASTRONAUT
CLASS, AND IT TAKES A TEAM OF
PEOPLE TO REVIEW APPLICATIONS
AND MAKE SELECTIONS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR
EMPLOYEES WHO HELPED WITH THE
SELECTION PROCESS.
THESE CANDIDATES STUDIED HARD,
WORKED HARD TO BE A NASA
ASTRONAUT, AND HAVE GONE THROUGH
OUR EXTENSIVE SELECTION PROCESS.
AND NOW TODAY, TEN PEOPLE WILL
BE NAMED AS NASA'S NEWEST
ASTRONAUT CANDIDATES.
THESE CANDIDATES WILL TRAIN HERE
FOR TWO YEARS, FOCUSING ON A
VARIETY OF TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES
FOR MISSIONS THAT WILL HELP NASA
PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF
EXPLORATION AND TRAVEL.
MANY OF THEM ARE STILL IN THE
PROCESS OF MOVING THEIR FAMILIES
TO HOUSTON, AND OUR TEAM IS
EXCITED TO WELCOME THEM HOME.
AT JOHNSON, OUR VISION IS CLEAR.
WE WORK WITH OUR VOLUNTEERS, WE
UNITE WITH OUR PARTNERS TO
EXPAND [indiscernible] TO
BENEFIT ALL OF HUMAN KIND.
WE'VE MADE MANY GIANT LEAPS
THROUGHOUT THE PAST 60 YEARS,
FULFILLING PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S
GOAL OF LANDING A MAN ON THE
MOON, AND TODAY, WE REACH
FURTHER INTO THE STARS AS WE
PUSH FORWARD TO THE MOON AND,
ONCE AGAIN, ONTO MARS WITH NASAs
NEWEST ASTRONAUT CANDIDATE
CLASS.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO
INTRODUCE TO NORM KNIGHT,
DIRECTOR OF THE ASTRONAUT FLIGHT
DIRECTORATE.
HE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR FLIGHT
OPERATIONS, INCLUDING NASA
ASTRONAUTS, FLIGHT DIRECTORS,
NASA PILOTS, AND AVIATION ASSETS
AS WELL AS REAL-TIME MISSION
CONTROL SENSOR COMMANDS AND
CONTROL, AND THE WORLD-CLASS
TRAINING FACILITIES, INCLUDING
OUR ASTRONAUT MOCK-UP, AND
ASTRONAUT SEA LAB.
PLEASE WELCOME NORM.
[Applause]
>> THANK YOU, VANESSA, FOR THE
KIND INTRODUCTION, AND GOOD
MORNING, EVERYONE.
IT IS A GREAT TIME TO BE IN THE
SPACE BUSINESS, AND IT IS A
GREAT DAY TO BE AT NASA, SO I
KNOW YOU ARE EXCITED TO MEET
NASAs NEWEST ASTRONAUT
CANDIDATES, SO LET'S BRING THEM
OUT.
THESE ARE YOUR NASA 2021
ASTRONAUT CANDIDATES.
AN AIR FORCE PILOT FROM DIVIDE,
COLORADO, NICOLE EHLERS.
AN AIR FORCE HELICOPTER TEST
PILOT FROM PUERTO RICO, MARCOS
BARRIOS.
[Applause]
>> A BIOENGINEER AND TEAM U.S.A.
TRACK CYCLIST FROM GILBERT,
ARIZONA, CHRISTINA BIRCH.
[Applause]
>> A DRILLING ENGINEER FROM
ALASKA, DENISE BURNHAM.
[Applause]
>> A NASA LANGLEY RESEARCH PILOT
FROM DUBARRY, FLORIDA, LUKE
DELANEY.
[Applause]
>> A SPACE SYSTEMS ENGINEER FROM
CHESAPEAKE, VIRGINIA, ANDRE
DOUGLAS.
[Applause]
>> A NAVY TEST PILOT FROM SOUTH
WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT, JACK
HATHAWAY.
[Applause]
>> MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT SPACEX
FROM MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA,
ANEAL MENNA.
[Applause]
>> A PHYSICIST FROM MARYLAND,
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS.
[Applause]
>> AND A NAVY TEST PILOT FROM
CLOVIS, CALIFORNIA, JESSICA
WHITNER.
[Applause]
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2021
NASA ASTRONAUT CANDIDATES.
WE WELCOME YOU TO THE NASA
FAMILY AND LOOK FORWARD TO
SEEING YOU TRAIN AND FLY AS NASA
ASTRONAUTS.
LET'S GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND OF
APPLAUSE.
[Applause]
>> VANESSA, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, NORM, AND
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR
ASTRONAUT CANDIDATES.
NOW, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE
ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA, NASA
ADMINISTRATOR BILL NELSON, WHO
IS LEADING OUR NATION INTO THE
FUTURE.
SENATOR NELSON HAS SERVED IN
POLITICS FOR FOUR DECADES.
HE WAS ELECTED THREE TIMES TO
THE U.S. SENATE, REPRESENTING
FLORIDA FOR 18 YEARS.
IN 1986, SENATOR NELSON FLEW ON
THE 24 FLIGHT OF THE SPACE
SHUTTLE.
THE MISSION ON COLUMBIA ORBITED
THE EARTH 98 TIMES OVER SIX
DAYS.
SENATOR NELSON CONDUCTED THE
FIRST SCIENCE RESEARCH
EXPERIMENT IN SPACE, AND I
INTRODUCE TO YOU ADMINISTRATOR
NELSON.
[Applause]
>> GOOD MORNING.
THEY'RE NOT ENTHUSIASTIC AT ALL,
ARE THEY?
WELL, THIS IS THE NASA FAMILY,
SO I ADDRESS YOU, MEMBERS OF THE
NATIONAL FAMILY, AND THOSE OF
YOU OUT THERE WATCHING THIS ON
NASA T.V., AND OUR DISTINGUISHED
GUESTS HERE.
FOR 60 YEARS, THE JOHNSON SPACE
CENTER HAS CAPTURED THE AMERICAN
STORY.
IT'S A STORY ABOUT DISCOVERY,
ABOUT EXPLORATION, ABOUT PEOPLE
WHO FORGE AHEAD.
WE ARE A NATION THAT IS RESTLESS
UNLESS PRESSING OUT INTO THE
UNKNOWN.
WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A FRONTIER TO
EXPAND; THE FRONTIER NOW IS
UPWARDS, AND IT'S OUT INTO THE
COSMOS.
WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE MOON,
AND WE'RE CONTINUING ONTO MARS.
AND SO TODAY, WE WELCOME NEW
MEMBERS TO THE ARTEMIS
GENERATION.
IT WAS THE APOLLO GENERATION
THAT DID SO MUCH FOR SO MANY.
NOW, IT'S THE ARTEMIS
GENERATION.
ALONE, EACH OF THESE CANDIDATES
CERTAINLY HAS THE RIGHT STUFF,
BUT TOGETHER, THEY REPRESENT
EXACTLY THE CREED OF OUR
COUNTRY, E PLURIBUS UNUM, OUT OF
MANY, ONE.
IN THIS CLASS IS THE SON OF TWO
IMMIGRANT PARENTS.
THERE ARE MEMBERS AND VETERANS
OF U.S. ARMED FORCES, INCLUDING
THE PILOT WHO LED THE FIRST
ALL-FEMALE F-22 FORMATION IN
COMBAT.
[Applause]
>> ONE CANDIDATE LED ON-SITE
OPERATIONS ON DRILLING RIGS IN
CANADA, OHIO, AND TEXAS, AND
ANOTHER IS A FORMER EMERGENCY
MEDICAL TECHNICIAN AND
FIREFIGHTER WHO BECAME AN
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE
AT HARVARD.
THE TEAM EVEN INCLUDES A U.S.
TRACK CYCLING TEAM MEMBER.
NASA ASTRONAUTS EMBODY THE
SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN
CHARACTER, BUT EACH ASTRONAUTS
CANDIDATE'S JOURNEY IS
DIFFERENT, AND THAT'S THE POWER
OF NASA.
WE UNITE PEOPLE TO EXPLORE, TO
DISCOVER, TO DREAM.
TO THE CANDIDATES, YOU'VE BEEN
SELECTED NOT ONLY TO PUSH THE
ENVELOPE OF HUMANITY'S
POTENTIAL, YOU'VE BEEN TASKED TO
CARRY OUT THE HOPES OF A NATION,
AND THAT HOPE IS FOUND IN THE
TWINKLING EYES OF A CHILD WHEN
THEY DREAM OF SOARING UPWARDS.
IT'S FELT WHENEVER WE -- YOU
KNOW, THE LORD IS SPEAKING.
[Applause]
>> OH, LORD, JUST LET ME DO MY
PART.
THAT HOPE IS FOUND IN THOSE
TWINKLING EYES OF A CHILD.
IT'S FELT WHENEVER WE GAZE UP AT
THE STARS AND WONDER WHAT MIGHT
BE OUT THERE.
IT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ON
DECEMBER 22.
WE'VE CARRIED AMERICANS TO THE
HEAVENS, AND THEY'VE CARRIED OUR
ASPIRATIONS TO THE MISSION.
IT NOW BELONGS TO YOU, AND SO
GOOD LUCK IN YOUR TRAINING, AND
MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
NOW, IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE
A COUPLE OF MORE EXPLORERS, AND
IS THAT THE SIREN GOING OFF FROM
LIGHTNING?
PROBABLY.
NASA IS VENTURING FARTHER OUT
INTO THE SOLAR SYSTEM, BUT
AMERICAN IS NOT GOING ALONE.
WE ARE PARTNERING WITH SPACE
AGENCIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
TODAY, WE ARE JOINED BY TWO
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES CREW
MEMBERS.
OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THEY
WILL TRAIN WITH THIS CLASS OF
CANDIDATES, AND THEY WILL
STRENGTHEN THE BOND BETWEEN OUR
TWO NATIONS.
THANK YOU, NOURA AND MOHAMMED.
WHERE ARE THEY?
[Applause]
>> WE ARE ALSO HONORED TO BE
JOINED TODAY BY SOME SPECIAL
GUESTS.
PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME THE
FOLLOWING ELECTED INDIVIDUALS.
CONGRESSMAN BRIAN BABBITT.
[Applause]
>> CONGRESSMAN RANDY WEBBER.
[Applause]
>> THAT INTRODUCTION JUST COST
YOU $5 BILLION MORE FOR THE NASA
BUDGET.
>> TEXAS STATE SENATOR LARRY
TAYLOR.
[Applause]
>> AND TEXAS STATE
REPRESENTATIVE DENNIS PAUL.
[Applause]
>> THANK YOU FOR THE BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT FROM THE OFFICES OF
SENATOR CRUZ, CONGRESS WOMAN
SHEILA JACKSON LEE, WHO TEXTED
ME AS TO WHY SHE COULD NOT BE
THERE.
SHE'S RIGHT THERE WHEN IT COMES
TO NASA, CONGRESSMAN BABBITT'S
STAFF, CONGRESSMAN TAYLOR'S
STAFF, CONGRESSMAN PAUL'S STAFF.
NEXT, CONGRESSMAN BABBITT, HIS
DISTRICT IS RIGHT HERE, AND HE'S
GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
CONGRESSMAN?
[Applause]
>> THANK YOU, ADMINISTRATOR.
>> REPEAT AFTER ME.
I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR --
>> WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU THE
MONEY.
THIS SHOULD BE A BIPARTISAN
EFFORT, AND I PROMISE YOU THAT
WE ARE WORKING AS HARD AS WE CAN
TO DO THAT.
IT'S MY PLEASURE AND MY
PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE THIS
MORNING, AND SO INCREDIBLY PROUD
TO BE STANDING HERE WITH YOU
WONDERFUL FOLKS, CELEBRATING
THESE NASA ASTRONAUTS.
THESE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN HAVE
BEEN CHOSEN LITERALLY FROM A
CAST OF THOUSANDS.
ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE LAUNCHING
AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS ON AMERICAN
ROCKETS FROM AMERICAN SOIL, AND
BEFORE LONG, WE WILL BE WATCHING
THE MOST POWERFUL LAUNCH VEHICLE
EVER KNOWN, THE SPACE LAUNCH
SYSTEM, AND THE ORION, THE ONLY
SYSTEM IN THE WORLD THAT WILL BE
ABLE TO STUDY SPACE, CLEAR THE
TOWER, AND YOU WILL BE ALONG FOR
THE RIDE.
ASTRONAUTS, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT
YOU WILL PREPARE YOURSELF FOR
THAT JOURNEY IN THE DISTANT
FUTURE.
KONG
CONGRESSMAN, I SERVE AS THE
RANKING MEMBER OF THE HOUSE
SPACE AND SCIENCE COMMITTEE.
YOU HAVE MY SOLEMN PROMISE THAT
I WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE
AND WITHIN MY POWER TO ENSURE A
ROBUST SPACE PROGRAM THAT WILL
BE STANDING BEHIND YOU THE
ENTIRE WAY.
WHEN IT COMES TO SPACE, MY
ABSOLUTE HIGHEST PRIORITY IS
ENSURING THAT AMERICA WILL
CONTINUE TO LEAD, TO DISCOVER,
AND TO ACHIEVE -- THANK YOU,
LORD.
HE AGREES WITH ME.
I HAVE GREAT FAITH THAT YOU WILL
ENABLE ME TO DO JUST THAT.
FAMED EXPLORER ERNEST SHACKLETON
SAID, THE ONLY CRIME IS NOT TO
EXPLORE AT ALL, AND WITH YOU,
YOU CARRY THE HOPES OF THE
COUNTRY INTO THE UNKNOWN.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DESIRE
TO EXPLORE, AND I KNOW YOU'LL DO
GREAT THINGS.
ADMINISTRATOR, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
[Applause]
>> SO I WANT TO INTRODUCE
CONGRESSMAN WEBBER OF TEXAS 14
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
CONGRESSMAN?
>> THANK YOU, MR. ADMINISTRATOR.
IT IS INDEED A PLEASURE TO BE
HERE.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE
INTRODUCTIONS AS REGARDING THE
$5 BILLION.
YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT.
BRIAN CAN HANDLE MOST OF IT, AND
I'LL KICK IN A LITTLE BIT FROM
TIME TO TIME.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
LISTEN, WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, TEXT.
COME ON, Y'ALL.
[Applause]
>> SERIOUSLY, WE DO.
WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY
IN THE WORLD, THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.
I KNOW YOU BELIEVE IT BECAUSE
WE'RE HERE.
NASA IS THE EPITOME, AND JOHNSON
SPACE CENTER, TOO, OF THE FINEST
THIS COUNTRY HAS TO OFFER.
CAN I GET A WITNESS?
COME ON, Y'ALL.
I'M GOING TO PASS A HAT A LITTLE
LATER, SO I'VE GOT TO GET A
LITTLE HELP.
I WAS REMINDED IN 1962, WHEN
J.F.K. SAID, WE'RE GOING TO PUT
A MAN ON THE MOON.
WELL, WHAT IF HE SAID WE WOULD
PUT A WOMAN ON THE MOON?
WE'D BE WAY AHEAD ALREADY, ON
THE WAY TO MARS.
BEARABILITY, TO FOCUS AND MAKE
GO -- MAKE THE GO, IF YOU'LL
PARDON THE PUN, IS OUT OF THIS
WORLD, AREN'T THEY?
COME ON, Y'ALL.
[Applause]
>> AND SPEAKING OF THE FINEST
THAT AMERICA HAS TO OFFER, THIS
IS A GROUP OF ASTRONAUT
CANDIDATES.
IT GIVES ME A GREAT DEAL OF
ENCOURAGEMENT.
YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER READING,
WHEN WE WERE TALKING IN THE
BACK, HE SAID HE'S NEVER SEEN SO
MUCH EXCITEMENT IN THE COUNTRY
AS THERE IS RIGHT NOW, AND I
SAID AMEN.
I COINED A PHRASE THAT'S
TOGETHERISM.
NASA IS TOGETHERISM.
WE'RE HELPING STEM, YOUNG PEOPLE
TO GET EXCITED.
YOU'RE SEEING TOGETHERISM.
I'M 68.
I KNOW I DON'T LIKE THAT OLD --
MORE LIKE 78, BUT YOU'RE SEEING
YOUNG PEOPLE GET EXCITED LIKE
I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
THAT GIVES ME EXCITEMENT.
I'M ENCOURAGED.
ARE YOU ALL ENCOURAGED?
[Applause]
>> SO WHY -- WHY IS THAT
IMPORTANT?
I WILL TELL YOU, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, THAT AS AMERICA GOES,
THE WORLD GOES, AND I DON'T SAY
THAT LIGHTLY.
FOR US TO LEAD IN SPACE IS
ABSOLUTELY PARAMOUNT, AND WHAT
WE DO, WHERE WE'RE HEADED IS
GOING TO BE HOW THE WORLD
PERCEIVES US, HOW THE WORLD
PERCEIVES US.
NASA HELPS BRING US TOGETHER,
NOT JUST TOGETHERISM HERE, BUT
AROUND THE WORLD.
WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF ASTRONAUTS
FROM ACROSS THE BIG BOND.
OUR SPACE COAST HELPS -- YOU ALL
HEAR THE RAIN?
NOTICE THAT I DIDN'T GET NO
LIGHTNING.
GOD WANTED YOU TO HEAR WHAT I
HAD TO SAY -- I'M JUST SAYING
THAT FOR MY FRIENDS.
HEAT
HAT'S OFF TO NASA, HAT'S OFF TO
THE DIRECTOR AND THE WHOLE NASA
TEAM.
WELL, GIVE THEM A HAND.
[Applause]
>> I DO WANT TO FIX ONE THING
THAT MISS VANESSA SAID.
SHE SAID THAT THE ASTRONAUTS'
FAMILIES ARE MOVING TO THE AREA.
I AM THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR
GALVESTON COUNTY.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE TAKING
APPLICATIONS FOR THE AREA.
HONESTLY, CONGRATULATIONS FOR A
GREAT JOB, HAT'S OFF, AND THE
BEST IS YET TO COME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH,
ADMINISTRATOR.
[Applause]
>> NOW, IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO
INTRODUCE A ROLE MODEL FOR ALL
ASTRONAUTS.
IN FACT, SHE WAS JUST INDUCTED
INTO THE ASTRONAUT HALL OF FAME.
PAM MELROY SERVED AS AN
ASTRONAUT ON ONE FLIGHT AND
COMMANDER ON ANOTHER.
SHE'S A TRAILBLAZER, A
VISIONARY, AND A REMARKABLE NASA
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR.
SHE, ALONG WITH BOB CABANA, ARE
GREAT COLEADERS WITH ME AS WE
TRY TO FORGE A PATH IN THE
FUTURE.
PLEASE GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR PAM MELROY.
[Applause]
>> OH, MY GOSH.
THIS IS SO AWESOME.
CONGRATULATIONS.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S SO
OVERWHELMING, ALL THE MEMORIES
THIS BRINGS BACK.
30 YEARS AGO, I GOT THE PHONE
CALL.
I WAS STATIONED AT EDWARDS AIR
FORCE BASE, AND I WAS FIXING
BREAKFAST, AND I GOT THE PHONE
CALL FROM SCOD.
AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED, AND
THEN, I HAD TO GO TO WORK.
AND THE LAST THING THAT DAVE
SAID TO ME WAS YOU CAN'T TELL
ANYONE UNTIL WE DO THE BIG
THING.
I SAID OKAY, I CAN'T TELL
ANYONE.
I WALKED INTO MY SQUADRON, AND
ALL OF MY PILOTS LOOKED AT ME
AND SAID, YOU GOT THE PHONE
CALL, AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF,
I'M FIRED ALREADY.
I SAID NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
THEY SAID, YOU CAN'T HIDE IT.
YOUR FACE IS LIT UP LIKE A
CANDLE, AND I THINK YOU ALL WILL
REMEMBER THAT PHONE CALL, AND
HERE'S HOW I KNOW.
MY ASCAN CLASS, 1995, WHEN WE
WERE TRYING TO MASTER THE INTRI
INTRICACIES OF THE SPACE
SHUTTLE, WE WOULD GO OVER AND
WATCH A MOVIE ABOUT THE PROCESS,
AND THAT WOULD LIFT OUR SPIRITS
AND EXPLAIN THE JOURNEY, AND I
KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO REMEMBER
THAT, TOO.
MY GENERATION BUILT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, AND
THAT WAS A REMARKABLE
ACHIEVEMENT AND AN AMAZING SET
OF CHALLENGES, BUT I ALSO WANT
TO POINT OUT AT THAT TIME THAT
THERE WERE TWO HUMAN SPACECRAFT
IN THE WORLD, THE SPACE SHUTTLE
AND THE SOYUZ, AND THAT WAS IT.
IN THE LAST DECADE, THANKS TO
NASAs PREVIOUS INVESTMENTS BUT
ALSO NURTURING AND SPONSORING OF
AMERICAN INDUSTRY, NOW, THE ENVY
OF THE WORLD, WE HAVE MULTIPLE
SPACECRAFT, SO IT'S NEVER BEEN A
MORE EXCITING TIME TO EMBARK ON
YOUR CAREER.
AND ARTEMIS, THAT IS SO
EXCITING.
WE CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THAT FIRST
HUMAN CAPABLE DEEP SPACECRAFT
SINCE APOLLO GO ON ITS MAIDEN
TEST VOYAGE NEXT YEAR.
BUT I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT
WE'RE NOT GOING TO REST ON THE
LAURELS OF THE LAST DECADE.
THE ADMINISTRATOR, THE ASSOCIATE
ADMINISTRATOR, MYSELF, ALL THE
SENIOR LEADERSHIP OF THE AGENCY
IS VERY FOCUSED ON BUILDING A
BLUEPRINT FOR HOW WE WILL FOCUS
ON NOT JUST GOING ONTO THE MOON,
NOT JUST ONTO MARS, BUT HOW WE
ARE GOING TO GET TO THE SOLAR
SYSTEM.
WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE MOON,
AND WE ARE GOING TO PUSH OUT,
AND THAT WILL BE YOUR
GENERATION.
AND I AM SO EXCITED.
CONGRATULATIONS.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SUPPORT YOU AND
CHEER YOU ON IN YOUR JOURNEY.
AND NOW, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE
OUR ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR, MY
FORMER BOSS AS THE CHIEF OF THE
ASTRONAUT OFFICE, ASTRONAUT BOB
CABANA.
[Applause]
>> THANK YOU, PAM.
IT'S GREAT TO BE HOME IN
HOUSTON, AND IT'S REALLY GREAT
TO BE HERE AT AIRCRAFT
OPERATIONS WHERE THE FINEST
AIRCRAFT MAINTAINERS IN THE
WORLD WORK.
AND I'VE GOT TO SAY, I DO MISS
FLYING THOSE SLEEK LITTLE CHICKS
THAT ARE BEHIND US.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN SO
LONG SINCE MY NASA CAREER WAS IN
FRONT OF ME.
I'VE JUST GOT TO SAY
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK OF WHAT I
WENT THROUGH AND WHERE YOU GUYS
ARE NOW, IT'S JUST -- THE WORLD
IS IN FRONT OF YOU.
I'M SO GLAD I GOT SELECTED WHEN
I DID BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE I
COULD COMPETE AGAINST ALL OF
YOU.
I'M ENVIOUS OF WHAT LIES IN
FRONT OF YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO ESTABLISH A
PRESENCE IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
BEYOND OUR HOME PLANET, AND YOU
GUYS GET TO DO THAT.
I THINK IT'S AWESOME.
WHEN I LOOK BACK AT MY ASTRONAUT
CANDIDATE CAREER, ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT IMPRESSED ME THE
MOST WAS THE CAMARADERIE OF MY
CLASS AND THE TEAM WORK.
IT WAS THE PEOPLE THAT I GOT TO
WORK WITH.
WHEN I HAD A QUESTION, MY
BACKGROUND WAS ENGINEERING AND
BEING A TEST PILOT, BUT I WAS
WORKING WITH Ph.D.s AND PHYSICS
AND ASTROLOGY.
YOU ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE A
GREAT 25TIME, AND THE ONLY THIN
THAT'S GOING TO TOP IT IS WHEN
YOU GET THAT FIRST SPACE FLIGHT,
AND THAT IS GOING TO BE
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
I WAS TALKING TO BOB BEHNKEN,
WHO IS THE CHIEF OF THE
ASTRONAUT OFFICE, NOT TOO LONG
AGO, AND HE ASKED HOW MY OFFICE
WAS GOING, AND I SAID ABSOLUTELY
AMAZING.
I SAID, BUT YOU KNOW, I HAVE NOT
WORKED THIS HARD OR PUT THIS
MANY HOURS IN SINCE I WAS CHIEF
OF THE ASTRONAUT OFFICE, AND BOB
CAN APPRECIATE THAT, AND SO CAN
THE NEXT PERSON THAT I'M GOING
TO INTRODUCE.
THAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING
TIME OF MY CAREER.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE
THE NEXT CHIEF OF THE ASTRONAUT
OFFICE.
HE'S AN OUTSTANDING LEADER, A
REALLY NICE GUY, AND MY FRIEND,
REID WISEMAN.
[Applause]
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO THERE'S SOME PREPARED WORDS
HERE, AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ
ANY OF THEM.
SITTING BEFORE US, WE HAVE TEN
AMERICANS, TEN OF OUR NATION'S
ABSOLUTE FINEST, AND YOU HAVE
GOT A HUGE, HUGE NEXT FEW YEARS
OF WORK AHEAD OF YOU, AND IT'S
GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY AWESOME.
BUT YOU WERE RAISED WELL, AND SO
I WANT TO THANK THEIR FAMILIES.
THEIR PARENTS, THEIR BROTHERS,
THEIR SISTERS, THE AUNTS AND
UNCLES WHO STEPPED IN WHEN IT
WAS NECESSARY.
YOU KNOW WHY OUR NATION IS GOOD
GOOD, AND YOU KNOW WHY THEY WERE
SELECTED.
I WAS TO HEAR FROM THEM -- I
WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM, AND
JESSICA, ABBEFORE I LET YOU GO,
WANT TO ECHO PRETTY MUCH WHAT
EVERYONE HAS SAID, WE ARE IN THE
GOLDEN AGE OF SPACE FLIGHT.
WE HAVE THE ARTEMIS PROGRAM
GOING ONTO THE MOON AND THEN
ONTO MARS.
RECOGNIZE THIS RIGHT HERE IS THE
GOLDEN AGE OF SPACE FLIGHT.
WITH THAT, JESSICA, WHEN DID YOU
FIRST BECOME INTERESTED IN BEING
AN ASTRONAUT.
>> YEAH, SO I FIRST BECAME
INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN
ASTRONAUT AT A VERY EARLY AGE.
I WAS THAT LITTLE GIRL WHO WOULD
PLAY WITH ROCKETS OUTSIDE AND
LOVED SPACE CLASS.
WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS
A PROFESSION THAT COMBINED ALL
OF THESE THINGS, I WAS HOOKED,
SO I WAS HOOKED RIGHT FROM THE
GUESS GO.
EVERY STEP OF MY CAREER HAD THIS
GOAL IN MIND OF STANDING HERE
TODAY AS A NASA AFFIDASTRONAUT
CANDIDATE, AS PART OF THIS TEAM.
I'M EXCITED TO BE STANDING UP
HERE RIGHT NOW, AND I'M EXCITED
TO BE A PART OF WHAT NASA HAS
PLANNED FOR THE FUTURE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
[Applause]
>> WHEN YOU GET ON THE SPACE
STATION, YOU KNOW THOSE MECHANIC
SKILLS WILL COME IN HANDY EVERY
SINGLE DAY ON THE PLATFORM
THERE.
DENISE, WHO INSPIRES YOU?
>> ALL RIGHT.
MY MOM IS IN THE AUDIENCE, SO
I'M GOING TO PUT HER ON THE
SPOT.
[Applause]
>> SO HER CHILDHOOD DREAM WAS TO
BE A MILITARY OFFICER.
AT THE TIME, IN TURKEY, IT WAS
NOT ALLOWED FOR WOMEN, SO AS A
LITTLE GIRL, I GOT TO WATCH MY
MOTHER GRAD FROM COLLEGE, AND
COMMISSION AS AN OFFICER IN THE
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.
AS LONG AS YOU STAY THE COURSE,
THAT'S WHAT INSPIRED ME TO DO
ANYTHING.
AS LONG AS YOU DON'T GIVE UP ON
YOUR DREAM, YOU CAN BECOME A
NASA ASTRONAUT.
THANK YOU.
[Applause]
>> THAT'S AWESOME, DENISE.
THANK YOU.
CHRIS, WHAT WERE YOU DOING
BEFORE YOU GOT SELECTED AS AN
ASTRONAUT.
>> YEAH, SO BEFORE I GOT
SELECTED AS A NASA ASTRONAUT, I
WAS WORKING AS A MEDICAL
PHYSICIST IN BOSTON, WORKING AS
PART OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM
TO TREAT PATIENTS.
WHILE IT WAS A LITTLE BIT BITTER
SWEET TO LEAVE MY TEAM, I'M
INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO JOIN NASA
AND PUSH SPACE FLIGHT FORWARD.
>> I THINK PAM IS SAFE, BUT YOU
AND I WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY IF I
WAS FLYING.
ALL RIGHT.
CHRISTINA, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO
THOSE WHO WANT TO FOLLOW IN YOUR
FOOT STEP?
>> WELL, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE
AMAZING TEAM MEMBERS BESIDES ME,
THERE'S NO ONE PATH TO BEING A
NASA ASTRONAUT.
IT WAS ALL SKILLS THAT I GAINED
FROM MY EXPERIENCES THAT HELPED
ME GET HERE, SO I THINK MY
ADVICE WOULD BE TO FIND
SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE REALLY
INTERESTED IN, REALLY CURIOUS
ABOUT, PASSIONATE ABOUT, AND
EXPLORE THAT DEEPLY, AND I THINK
IF YOU APPROACH EVERY DAY,
TRYING TO DO THE LITTLE THINGS
WELL, THEY WILL ADD UP TO
SOMETHING REALLY BIG, AND THAT
WILL BE SITTING HERE SOMEDAY AS
A NASA ASTRONAUT CANDIDATE.
[Applause]
>> ALL RIGHT.
JACK, WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT
HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT RIGHT NOW?
>> KIND OF A CUSP QUESTION TO
ANSWER BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH
THAT'S EXCITING ABOUT NASA SPACE
FLIGHT RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S JUST SO MUCH THAT'S
GOING ON THAT'S JUST SO VERY
EXCITING, I JUST -- I CAN'T PUT
MY FINGER ON ONE THING.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT ALL.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE SPEED THAT
IT'S HAPPENING AT.
WHO KNOWS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO
BE IN FIVE, TEN, 15 YEARS
BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING SO
QUICKLY.
THERE'S SO MUCH SUPPORT FOR THE
SPACE PROGRAM OUT THERE THAT WE
CAN DO ANYTHING IN THE TIME THAT
WE HAVE, AND I'M EXCITED FOR ALL
OF MY NASA CANDIDATES COLLEAGUES
TO DO THIS WITH YOU AND SEE
WHERE MANNED HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT
WILL TAKE US.
THANKS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
BEFORE I ASK ANDRE HIS QUESTION,
I GOT TO MEET HIS DAD LAST
NIGHT.
IF ANYONE NEEDS A NEW BEST
FRIEND, PLEASE FIND ANDRE'S DAD.
I COULD TALK TO HIM FOREVER.
ALL RIGHT.
ANDRE, SORRY TO PUT YOU ON THE
SPOT.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A NASA
ASTRONAUT?
>> SO A NASA ASTRONAUT IS NOT
AFRAID OF CHALLENGES OR SOLVING
COMPLEX PROBLEMS.
THEY'RE EXPLORERS THAT ARE READY
TO UNLOCK THE SECRETS OF OUR
UNIVERSE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF
HUMAN KIND, BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY, THEY ARE TEAM
PLAYERS THAT COLLABORATE WITH
CONTRACTORS, PEOPLE,
ORGANIZATIONS, INTERNATIONAL
PARTNERS TO FURTHER BENEFIT
SPACE EXPLORATION.
[Applause]
>> ALL RIGHT.
WHAT ASPECT OF TRAINING ARE YOU
LOOKING FORWARD TO?
>> AS YOU CAN SEE, THE COMMON
THEME IS BEING PART OF A TEAM,
SO I CANNOT WAIT TO GET TO KNOW
MY NEW TEAM MEMBERS.
I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY OR BE
WHERE I AM WITHOUT MY
COLLEAGUES, TO INCLUDE MY
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL TEAMMATES
THAT ARE IN THE STANDS.
WOMEN IN FLYING, IN THE T-38,
NOT ONLY FLYING BUT ALSO GETTING
TO LEARN AS WE FLY TOGETHER AND
GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
I CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO KNOW ONE
ANOTHER AND THE DIFFERENT
ASPECTS OF SPACE FLIGHT AND HOW
NASA ASTRONAUTS ARE GOING TO
FURTHER HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT.
[Applause]
>> MARCOS, WHAT FUTURE MISSES
ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT, AND
WHY?
>> SO ANY MISSION THAT I CAN BE
ASSIGNED TO.
>> PERFECT ANSWER.
>> CAN I HOLD YOU TO WHAT I'M
ABOUT TO SAY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO I KNOW I HAVE TWO BROTHERS IN
THE AUDIENCE WHO ARE PROBABLY
TELLING ME, SO YOU THINK THERE'S
A CHANCE.
I'M GOING TO GO BIG HERE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF
NASA COULD CURRENTLY SCALE UP
THE INGENUITY FOR TWO PEOPLE TO
FIT IN.
I KNOW TWO PEOPLE THAT WOULD
LOVE TO TAKE A RIDE FOR SCIENCE.
[Applause]
>> YOU CAN DEFINITELY HOLD ME TO
THAT, AND I WILL RIDE WITH YOU
ANY TIME.
LUCAS, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT'S
GOING ON AT NASA LANGUAGE RE?
>> WE'VE GOT ADVANCEMENTS FOR
AVIATION SAFETY, ATMOSPHERIC
DEVELOPMENT, AND A LOT OF
RESEARCH GOING ON.
JUST TAKING A PART IN SOME OF
THOSE AIRBORNE SCIENCE MISSIONS,
WITH SENSOR INSTRUMENTS, GOING
OUT AND COLLECTING DATA IN ALL
REGIONS OF THE ATMOSPHERE, IT'S
GOING TO FORM DECISIONS THAT
BETTER UNDERSTAND THE PLANET, SO
GOING FROM THERE TO THE SPACE
TEAM, JUST AN INCREDIBLE
EXPERIENCE.
>> THANK YOU.
[Applause]
>> ALL RIGHT.
ANIL, DOCTOR IN THE GROUP, THE
FUTURE OF SPACE MEDICINE.
>> LET'S SEE...FUTURE OF SPACE
MEDICINE, WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT
ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE
RAPIDLY EXPANDING.
I GOT MY START HERE AT NASA, AT
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER AS A FLIGHT
DOCTOR, AND THERE WAS TEN, 20
DOCTORS AT THAT TIME POINT, AND
THEN, THERE WAS ONE SPOT THAT
OPENED UP AT A COMMERCIAL
PARTNER, AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH
TO WORK THERE, AND THAT WAS
THREE YEARS AGO.
IN THOSE THREE YEARS, I'VE SEEN
MEDICAL STUDENTS, RESIDENTS,
PARAMEDICS, PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANTS, GETTING
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SPACE
PROGRAM, TAKING CARE OF
ASTRONAUTS, SO AS A FUTURE NASA
ASTRONAUT, I'M EXCITED TO
PRACTICE MEDICINE IN SPACE,
SHARE IT WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES.
IF I WOULD BE LOOKING AT A
CAREER IN MEDICINE RIGHT NOW, I
WOULD BE SO EXCITED AND I WOULD
JUMP AT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
SPACE MEDICINE BECAUSE THE
OPPORTUNITIES ARE LIMITLESS, AND
CUE THE THUNDER, PLEASE.
[Applause]
>> SO FOR THE KIDS THAT ARE OUT
THERE WATCHING, YOU GET ASKED
THE QUESTION ALL THE TIME.
HOW CAN I BECOME A NASA
ASTRONAUT?
HOW CAN I DO THIS?
HOW CAN I EXPLORE SPACE?
THE ANSWER IS EASY.
FIND SOMETHING YOU'RE PASSIONATE
ABOUT, AND GO DO IT.
WE HAVE DOCTORS, RESEARCHERS,
ENGINEERS, TEACHERS, PILOTS.
THAT'S WHAT A NASA ASTRONAUT IS,
SOMEONE WHO'S DEDICATED TO
IMPROVING LIFE FOR EVERYONE IN
THE WORLD.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO HAND IT
BACK OVER TO VANESSA WYCHE.
>> THANK YOU.
I
I WANT TO ECHO WHAT WAS SAID
EARLIER.
REID WISEMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
HELP IN SELECTING THIS ASTRONAUT
CANDIDATE CLASS.
YOU GUYS ARE SO AWESOME.
[Applause]
>> AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL
OF YOU FOR JOINING US HERE, THE
NASA TEAM THAT MAKES US SO
SUCCESSFUL.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
COMING.
THIS IS A GREAT AND EXCITING DAY
FOR OUR NATION, A VERY EXCITING
DAY FOR NASA, AND SO I WOULD
LIKE FOR OUR CANDIDATES TO
PLEASE STAND ONE MORE TIME SO
THEY CAN GET A HUGE ROUND OF
APPLAUSE.