NASA picks 8 new astronauts, 4 of them women

Source: Associated Press

Published: Monday, Jun. 17, 2013 / Updated: Monday, Jun. 17, 2013 01:02 PM

NASA picks 8 new astronauts, 4 of them women

By MARCIA DUNN - AP Aerospace Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA has eight new astronauts - its first new batch in four years.

Among the lucky candidates: the first female fighter pilot to become an astronaut in nearly two decades. A female helicopter pilot also is in the group. In fact, four of the eight are women, the highest percentage of female astronaut candidates ever selected by NASA.

Monday's announcement came on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the launch of the first American woman in space, Sally Ride. She died last summer.

The eight - all in their 30s - were chosen from more than 6,000 applications received early last year, the second largest number ever received. They will report for duty in August at Johnson Space Center in Houston and join 49 astronauts currently at NASA. The number has dwindled ever since the space shuttles stopped flying in 2011. Many astronauts quit rather than get in a lengthy line for relatively few slots for long-term missions aboard the International Space Station.

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