Ten explorers are currently training at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston to become flight-eligible astronauts.
Selected in 2025, the astronaut candidates are building the technical and operational skills needed for future missions to the International Space Station, the Moon, and eventually Mars. Now, NASA's newest astronaut candidates have a class name: the Platypi.
The name was selected by the previous astronaut candidate class, known as the Flies. Members of that group came together to choose a name that reflected the range of skills and personalities they saw in the new candidates. NASA astronauts Anil Menon and Chris Birch helped facilitate the discussions.
