These candidates are joining NASA’s astronaut corps at a time when human exploration of Mars is a key objective for the agency. Not even closeAny of NASA’s current astronauts could theoretically go to Mars, but this new class has the best shot. Through the “Moon to Mars” initiative, the agency plans to use the Artemis missions as stepping stones toward sending humans to Mars. Before Artemis 3, NASA still has to tackle Artemis 2, wherein four astronauts will embark on a 10-day trip around the Moon. An astronaut class like no otherNASA’s 24th astronaut class will spend the next two years in basic training before embarking on their first missions.