NASA picks 18 astronauts including the first-ever woman to set foot on Moon
NASA has named the 18 astronauts half of
them women who will train for its Artemis moon-landing programme.
The first woman and next man on the moon will come from this elite
group.
Vice President Mike Pence introduced the astronauts on
Wednesday at the close of his final meeting as chairman of the National Space
Council. The announcement was made at Florida's Kennedy Space Centre, beneath
one of only three remaining Saturn V moon rockets from the 1960s and 1970s
Apollo programme.
My fellow Americans, I give you the heroes of the future who will
carry us back to the moon and beyond, the Artemis generation, Pence told the
small crowd, seated several feet apart from one another.
Five of the astronauts the only
ones in attendance walked onto the stage, waving and wearing masks.
NASA Administrator
Jim Bridenstine stressed there would be more astronauts joining the group. NASA has 47 active
astronauts.
The space agency is aiming for a moon landing by 2024, although
the chances of that happening are growing increasingly dim. The upcoming change
in administration also adds uncertainty.
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