The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced its new class of astronauts Monday, its first batch in four years. The space agency selected eight new astronauts, four of whom are women, the highest percentage of female astronaut candidates ever chosen. Among them is the first female fighter pilot to become an astronaut in almost 20 years, as well as a female helicopter pilot. The astronauts were chosen from more than 6,000 applications, the second largest number ever received. They will report for duty in August at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. NASA administrator Charles Bolden said that the candidates will help lead the first human mission to an asteroid, and then Mars.
