Lauren Edgar, a seasoned expert at NASA with nearly two decades of experience studying the moon and Mars, has recently embarked on an exciting new chapter in her career. Known for her role in guiding rover missions and designing lunar science initiatives for the Artemis program, Edgar is now set to trade her position behind the console for the thrilling opportunity to fly to space herself. Selected as one of the ten candidates in NASA's 2025 astronaut class, which was revealed this week at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Edgar is part of a diverse group of pilots, engineers, doctors, and scientists poised to launch on future missions to both the moon and Mars.
When Lauren Edgar discovered she had been chosen for the astronaut program, her reaction was one of sheer excitement. In an interview with Space.com on September 22, the day of the announcement, she expressed her surprise, stating, "I was so excited. You know, totally shocked." The first person she shared her news with was her dog, Coco. "I was walking around on the phone because I couldn't sit still as I'm having this conversation, and she was chasing me through the house," Edgar recalled, emphasizing that Coco seemed to sense something significant was happening. Following her furry companion, Edgar quickly called her husband and family to celebrate the monumental news.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Edgar developed a profound appreciation for the outdoors and the region's rich aviation history. These experiences shaped her interests in geology and exploration. Her fascination with space was ignited in second grade when she witnessed a space shuttle launch. "I realized there were people onboard, and they were leaving the planet, and it made me wonder, 'What else is out there?'" Edgar reflected. Her niece, currently in second grade, watched NASA's announcement online, prompting Edgar to draw a parallel between their ages and to encourage aspiring astronauts to pursue their dreams relentlessly. "Don't give up," she advised. "Nothing is impossible, and it takes a lot of people from a lot of different backgrounds to contribute to what we're doing here in human exploration."
Lauren Edgar's path to becoming an astronaut candidate—affectionately known as ASCAN at NASA—was not without its challenges. Before her selection, she served as the deputy principal investigator on the Artemis 3 geology team, where she was instrumental in designing the science goals for NASA's upcoming crewed mission to the lunar surface. Her extensive 17-year background included significant contributions to the Mars Curiosity rover and Mars Exploration Rover missions, along with facilitating geology training for NASA engineers, mission teams, and astronauts.
Despite her new role, Edgar views her transition not as a paradigm shift but as an evolution of her ongoing commitment to the same goals she pursued during her rover missions and on the Artemis 3 science team. "I just get to serve in a slightly different role now, but the end goal is the same," she explained. This new perspective has prompted her to reflect on the challenges of operating in remote environments while maintaining a focus on mission objectives. "I'm excited to take on that new challenge," she stated.
One of the significant challenges Edgar may face includes potential missions to the moon. NASA is targeting landing sites near the lunar south pole for its Artemis missions, aiming to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon. Edgar underscores the importance of this region for advancing planetary science and facilitating humanity's journey deeper into space. "That will be a really important place to go, from both a science perspective and also having a sustained presence," she noted, highlighting its potential as a launching area for long-duration missions to Mars.
NASA envisions the Artemis missions to the lunar surface as vital stepping stones, allowing the agency to perfect technologies and techniques for long-term expeditions, ultimately paving the way for missions to Mars. Edgar expressed her lifelong dream of participating in such explorations, stating that she and her rover teams often had to imagine themselves on the Martian surface, constantly pondering how to connect with the landscape. "I'm interested in going to Mars myself," she affirmed, welcoming the opportunity if it arises.
The candidates of NASA's 2025 astronaut class will undergo two years of rigorous training at Johnson Space Center and other NASA facilities, preparing them to become flight-ready astronauts. This comprehensive training will encompass a wide array of skills, including flying various spacecraft, conducting spacewalk simulations, learning foreign languages, and engaging in scientific instruction. NASA emphasizes the importance of diverse cross-familiarization among astronauts to ensure they possess the necessary skills to support each other in high-stress, remote environments.
"If you're the only people out there on a mission together, you need to be able to take care of each other and take care of the mission objectives," Edgar explained. She is particularly eager to participate in geology training, which will include various subspecialties. "I think the composition of our class reflects the needs of the program," she said. "We're going to need amazing pilots to fly to some of these really challenging environments, medical professionals to keep us safe during long-duration missions, engineers, and scientists." Edgar expressed her excitement about learning from her peers and looks forward to what lies ahead in their shared journey of exploration.
