Cape Canaveral: NASA introduced its newest astronauts Monday, 10 scientists, engineers and test pilots chosen from more than 8,000 applicants to help explore the moon and possibly Mars. For the first time, there were more women than men in a NASA astronaut class. It is the 24th astronaut class for NASA since the original Mercury Seven made their debut in 1959. Only 370 people have been selected by NASA as astronauts, making it an extraordinarily small and elite group composed mostly of men. The latest additions revealed during a ceremony at NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston, will join 41 active US astronauts currently serving in the corps.