![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jsc2025e091025.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>The name was selected by the\u00a0previous\u00a0astronaut candidate class,\u00a0known as\u00a0the 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\u00a0Birch\u00a0helped\u00a0facilitate\u00a0the discussions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re like the Swiss Army knife of candidates,\u201d Menon said. \u201cThey can use\u00a0just about any\u00a0tool to solve any problem or challenge they face.\u00a0They\u2019re\u00a0unassuming and incredibly kind, but extremely capable.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/figure>Menon said the class reminded the Flies of one of Earth\u2019s most\u00a0remarkable\u00a0animals.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOur main driver was that this class stood out as extremely capable, with a lot of different skills, while also being very friendly and supportive of each other,\u201d he said. \u201cThey have\u00a0many diverse and sometimes hidden talents, like the platypus.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The platypus is\u00a0a\u00a0mammal that lays eggs\u00a0and\u00a0has\u00a0unique traits such as electroreceptors in its bill and a venomous spur. Its\u00a0features resemble several different animals, including the bill of a duck, the tail of a beaver, and the body of an otter. Despite its unusual appearance, the platypus is highly adapted to its environment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For NASA\u2019s newest astronaut candidates, the name reflects a similar idea: a team with a wide range of strengths working together toward a common goal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/figure>So far, the\u00a0astronaut candidates\u00a0have trained\u00a0to\u00a0operate\u00a0and understand the\u00a0Canadarm2\u00a0robotic arm\u00a0used aboard the\u00a0space station. They\u00a0are learning\u00a0how to capture\u00a0visiting spacecraft, move\u00a0equipment outside the station, and support\u00a0spacewalk operations.\u00a0The candidates\u00a0also\u00a0train in\u00a0space station\u00a0systems, orbital mechanics, and flight operations. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is really impressive to me to learn about all of the complexities of the various systems that keep the International Space Station operational, and how they\u2019ve all been functioning with a continuous human presence aboard for the last 25 years,\u201d said astronaut candidate Lauren Edgar. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing to see how it all works together and how to fix things when needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The candidates have\u00a0completed\u00a0survival training to prepare for the unlikely event of landing in remote environments after a mission.\u00a0They also\u00a0participated\u00a0in\u00a0land and\u00a0water survival exercises designed to build teamwork and decision-making under pressure.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe diversity of the training as well as the focus on psychological, physical, and expeditionary skills has been the most surprising to me,\u201d said astronaut candidate Yuri Kubo. \u201cI\u2019ve learned a lot about myself, from areas of professional and interpersonal development to my ability to overcome challenges. It is amazing what we can achieve with dedication and hard work and an amazing team of people to support you.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/figure>The\u00a0candidates\u00a0began\u00a0conducting\u00a0spacewalk training inside NASA\u2019s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, where astronauts rehearse spacewalks underwater in conditions that simulate microgravity.\u00a0They\u00a0also\u00a0have flown\u00a0in the agency\u2019s T-38 supersonic jets\u00a0and other\u00a0aircraft\u00a0at\u00a0Ellington Field.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Future training will include\u00a0operating spacecraft systems used in human spaceflight missions, and studying geology in classrooms\u00a0and field\u00a0settings\u00a0for future missions to the Moon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The class will work shifts in the Mission Control Center in Houston to experience a day in the life of the people who keep watch over the astronauts and vehicles.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOur training has already been diverse and dynamic,\u201d said astronaut candidate Anna Menon. \u201cThere is a lot to learn, and I\u2019m excited about every chapter!\u201d<\/p>\n