NASA introduces its newest astronauts: 10 chosen from more than 8,000 applicants

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

NASA selects 10 new astronauts from 8,000 applicants

First class with more women than men

Candidates include SpaceX engineer and Mars rover geologist

Training prepares astronauts for future moon and Mars missions

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 an incoming astronaut class. They included a geologist who worked on NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover and a SpaceX engineer who’s already rocketed into orbit, flying on a billionaire-sponsored mission that featured the world’s first private spacewalk last year.

The six women and four men will undergo two years of training before becoming