(Article contributed to NASA.gov)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA has selected 18 astronauts from its corps to form the Artemis Team and help pave the way for the next astronaut missions on and around the Moon as part of the Artemis program. Among those 18 astronauts who were announced were a pair of former Naval Academy student-athletes, Kayla (Sax) Barron '10 and Nicole (Aunapu) Mann '99, who participated in cross country/track and field, and women's soccer, respectively.
Vice President Mike Pence introduced the members of the Artemis Team Wednesday during the eighth National Space Council meeting at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
"I give you the heroes who will carry us to the Moon and beyond – the Artemis Generation," said Vice President Mike Pence. "It is amazing to think that the next man and first woman on the Moon are among the names that we just read. The Artemis Team astronauts are the future of American space exploration – and that future is bright."
The astronauts on the Artemis Team come from a diverse range of backgrounds, expertise, and experience. The agency's modern lunar exploration program will land the first woman and next man on the Moon in 2024 and establish a sustainable human lunar presence by the end of the decade.
NASA will announce flight assignments for astronauts later, pulling from the Artemis Team. Additional Artemis Team members, including international partner astronauts, will join this group, as needed.
"We are incredibly grateful for the president and vice president's support of the Artemis program, as well as the bipartisan support for all of NASA's science, aeronautics research, technology development, and human exploration goals," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "As a result, we're excited to share this next step in exploration – naming the Artemis Team of astronauts who will lead the way, which includes the first woman and next man to walk on the lunar surface."
The astronauts of the Artemis Team will help NASA prepare for the coming Artemis missions, which begin next year working with the agency's commercial partners as they develop human landing systems; assisting in the development of training; defining hardware requirements; and consulting on technical development. They also will engage the public and industry on the Artemis program and NASA's exploration plans.
"There is so much exciting work ahead of us as we return to the moon, and it will take the entire astronaut corps to make that happen," Chief Astronaut Pat Forrester said. "Walking on the lunar surface would be a dream come true for any one of us, and any part we can play in making that happen is an honor. I am proud of this particular group of men and women and know that any of them would do an outstanding job representing NASA and the United States on a future Artemis mission."
The 18 Members of the Artemis Team are:
Joseph Acaba, Kayla Barron, Raja Chari, Matthew Dominick, Victor Glover, Warren Hoburg, Jonny Kim, Christina Hammock Koch, Kjell Lindgren, Nicole Mann, Anne McClain, Jessica Meir, Jasmin Moghbeli, Kate Rubins, Frank Rubio, Scott Tingle, Jessica Watkins and Stephanie Wilson
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Kayla Barron was chosen as an astronaut in 2017. Originally from Richland, Washington, she earned a bachelor's degree in systems engineering and a master's degree in nuclear engineering. As a submarine warfare officer, Barron was a member of the first class of women commissioned into the submarine community. She is a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy.
As a student-athlete, Barron competed for the Midshipmen in both cross country and track and field during her time at the Academy from 2007 to 2010. She was a multi-year letterwinner competing primarily in the distance events. Barron was a member of the Navy women's cross country team that won the 2008 Patriot League Championship.
In addition to her efforts on the field, Barron excelled in the classroom. She boasted a 4.00 grade point average in honors systems engineering throughout her time at the Naval Academy. Barron made the Commandant's List every semester and was also a member of the Superintendent's List and Dean's List. She concluded her academic career ranked first in her class of 1,050 in Academic Order of Merit.
Following graduation, Barron became the ninth student from the Naval Academy to be awarded the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, which enables academically outstanding students from outside the United Kingdom to pursue graduate study at the University of Cambridge. She earned a master's degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Cambridge.
Nicole A. Mann joined the astronaut corps in 2013 and is currently training as pilot for the Crew Flight Test of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner. Born in Petaluma, California, she earned bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering. The U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel was an F/A-18 fighter pilot and graduate from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.
Mann starred on the soccer field at the United States Naval Academy from 1995-1998, building Navy into a perennial power with the first four winning seasons in a streak that would last 21 years. Mann, who started 74 of her 75 appearances while contributing one goal and four assists as a defender, helped guide the Mids to their first postseason in 1996 and, as a senior, captained Navy through an undefeated Patriot League campaign for the program's first conference title in 1998.
One of the most decorated women's soccer players in Patriot League history, Mann garnered First Team All-Patriot League recognition and United Soccer Coaches All-Region honors all four years and was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. In addition, she was named to the Patriot League All-Decade Women's Soccer Team in 2000 and the Patriot League Women's Soccer 25th Anniversary Team in 2015.
Mann's many athletic accomplishments were accompanied by an array of academic awards, as well. She twice received CoSIDA Academic All-American honors and Patriot League Women's Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year distinction (1997 and 1998). Additionally following her senior season in 1998, Mann earned recognition from the United Soccer Coaches organization as a Scholar All-American, by the NCAA as Woman of the Year in the state of Maryland and from the Patriot League as their Female Scholar Athlete of the Year. The Naval Academy also bestowed Mann, a Trident Scholar, with the Vice Admiral Lawrence Sword for Women.
Following her graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1999, Mann, a California native, earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University in 2001. Upon completing graduate school, Mann attended The Basic School (Marine Corps officer training in Quantico, Virginia) and after flight training, was awarded her Naval Aviator wings in 2002. She was the Honor Graduate in her US Naval Test Pilot School class. In her career to date, Mann has flown over 2,500 flight hours in 25 types of aircraft, has 200-plus carrier landings, and has flown 47 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. For her action, she has received two Air Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. Mann was recipient of the NASA 2015 Stephen D. Thorne Safety Award.
