1995 Astronaut Class (Group 15)

On December 08, 1994, NASA selected nineteen new astronaut candidates for the Space Shuttle program. The 1995 group consisted of 10 pilots and 9 mission specialists, including 6 civilians and 13 military officers. The candidates were chosen from among 2,962 applicants. NASA brought 122 of the applicants to the Johnson Space Center, Houston, for interviews and medical evaluations in June, July and August 1994. The candidates reported to JSC in March 1995 to begin a year of training and evaluation, followed by technical assignments within the Astronaut Office to further prepare them for assignment to Shuttle flight crews.

Japanese astronaut Takao Doi, Ph.D., representing the National Space Development Agency of Japan, and Canadian astronaut David S. Williams, M.D., of the Canadian Space Agency, joined the group of astronaut candidates later. Their selection brought the astronaut class of 1995 to 21 candidates.

The total number of candidates rose to 23, with the selection of French astronauts Michel Tognini and Jean-Loup Chrétien.

NASA RELEASE: 94-205 and 95-3

The People

The 19 American members of the 1995 Astronaut Class are:

Scott D. Altman, Michael P. Anderson, Jeffrey S. Ashby, Michael J. Bloomfield, Kalpana Chawla, Robert L. Curbeam, Joe F. Edwards, Dominic Gorie, Kathryn P. Hire, Rick D. Husband, Janet L. Kavandi, Steven W. Lindsey, Edward T. Lu, Pamela A. Melroy, Carlos I. Noriega, James F. Reilly, Stephen K. Robinson, Susan L. Still, Frederick W. Sturckow.

The International Candidates are:

Jean-Loup J.M. Chrétien and Michel Tognini (France)
Takao Doi (Japan)
Dafydd (Dave) Rhys Williams (Canada)

The Artwork

The patch of the Group XV Astronaut Class of 1995 incorporates the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station suspended above the Earth as the primary elements of NASA's current and future space exploration program. These elements are on a field of blue containing seven stars representing the original seven astronauts (and the Challenger crew ?). The Shuttle is connected by silver streamers to the gold Astronaut symbol representing the award of the silver pin following completion of Astronaut Candidate training and the gold pin following each members's first flight. A rim containing 23 stars, representing each of the class members, surrounds the field. Finaly, flags of the class members countries symbolize the unique international diversity of Group XV.

Spot the patch !!!

23 February 2000, JSC Director George W.S. Abbey greets astronaut Dominic L. Gorie, pilot, following the STS-99 crew's arrival at Ellington Field near the Johnson Space Center.

A Personal Story

Astronaut Carlos Noriega telling about astronaut training:

How long have you been training to become an astronaut?

I've been training on and off for 3 years now. One year of initial training followed by 8 months for STS-84.

How did you get a job at NASA, did you want to be a mission specialist?

There is a lengthy application process and selections every two years or so. There is a lot of information available on the web.

How many astronauts work on nasa?

Currently there are about 140. This includes the 44 members of the class of 96 which just graduated last week. It also includes some astronauts assigned to external jobs who have not flown in a while.

From: Space Team Online QuestChat, May 07, 1998.