WASHINGTON — NASA announced its newest class of astronauts Sept. 22 as agency leaders and lawmakers emphasized their intent to return humans to the moon before China.

At a ceremony at Johnson Space Center, NASA introduced the 10 members of the newest astronaut class, formally known as Group 24. The class includes scientists, engineers and pilots, with experience ranging from flying military aircraft in combat to working on the Curiosity Mars rover.

Group 24 stands out in several respects. The six women and four men represent NASA’s first astronaut class with more women than men.

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