Record number of Americans apply to be astronauts

“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.