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Record number of Americans apply to be astronauts

IN SPACE - SEPTEMBER 5: In this handout from NASA, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Aki Hoshide, Expedition 32 flight engineer, participates in the mission?s third session of extravehicular activity (EVA outside the International Space Station September 5, 2012 in Space. (Photo by NASA via Getty Images)

Credit: NASA

Credit: NASA

IN SPACE - SEPTEMBER 5: In this handout from NASA, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Aki Hoshide, Expedition 32 flight engineer, participates in the mission?s third session of extravehicular activity (EVA outside the International Space Station September 5, 2012 in Space. (Photo by NASA via Getty Images)
By Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Feb 20, 2016

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More than 18,000 people applied to be an astronaut during the last two months.

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“It’s not at all surprising to me that so many Americans from diverse backgrounds want to personally contribute to blazing the trail on our journey to Mars,” said former astronaut and current NASA administrator Charlie Bolden. “A few exceptionally talented men and women will become the astronauts chosen in this group who will once again launch to space from U.S. soil on American-made spacecraft.”

NASA's Astronaut Selection Board will select and announce eight to 14 individuals in mid-2017. The new astronauts will train at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where they'll complete about two years of initial training on spacecraft systems, spacewalking skills and teamwork, Russian language and other skills.

Applications for the 2017 astronaut class opened Dec. 14, and closed Thursday.

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