NASA just graduated its newest astronaut class — the first in four years. Three of the 10 candidates came from MIT. Marcos Berríos, Christina Birch, and Christopher Williams will report to Johnson Space Center in January to begin two years of training. They're joining a pipeline that already includes 41 MIT alumni among the 360 astronauts NASA has selected since 1959.
What happened
- NASA selected 10 new astronaut candidates, the first class in four years
- Three are MIT alumni: Marcos Berríos, Christina Birch, Christopher Williams
- They were chosen from more than 12,000 applicants
- Training begins January at Johnson Space Center in Houston
- MIT has produced 41 astronaut alumni overall
The MIT Connection
Berríos, an Air Force major and test pilot, earned his bachelor's in mechanical engineering from MIT before heading to Stanford for graduate work. He accumulated over 1,100 combat missions and 1,300 flight hours across 21 aircraft types. His interest in space exploration started young — he recalls wanting to travel to nebulae as a five-year-old after reading Ender's Game.
Birch completed her PhD in biological engineering at MIT after undergraduate work in mathematics and biochemistry. She left academia to become a decorated US National Team cyclist, nearly qualifying for the Olympics before pivoting back to science.
Williams holds a physics doctorate from MIT.
Training Pipeline
The two-year astronaut candidate program covers five domains: International Space Station systems operation and maintenance, spacewalk training, robotics, T-38 jet operation, and Russian language skills. Upon completion, candidates become eligible for missions ranging from ISS research to commercial crew launches to deep-space destinations including the Moon.
Why This Matters
NASA's astronaut classes fluctuate based on operational needs and budget cycles. The four-year gap reflects the pause between the shuttle program's end and the commercial crew program's maturation. Now that SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Boeing's Starliner are operational, NASA has more launch flexibility — and more need for crew.
MIT's strong representation reflects the school's emphasis on practical engineering and hands-on problem-solving. Berríos specifically credited MIT's rigor with preparing him for the discipline required in spaceflight.
Practical Example
If you're an engineering student wondering whether your path leads to space, the answer increasingly runs through practical skills rather than pure theory. Berríos highlighted the ability to "fix the toilet" on a space station as a real operational requirement. Problem-solving under constraint, hands-on competence, and the ability to function under pressure are what training actually tests.
Bottom Line
Three MIT alumni in one NASA class is notable but not anomalous. The school has a track record of producing astronauts who bridge research and operations. Watch how this class performs through training — their mission assignments will signal where NASA's priorities lie as it pushes toward Artemis and commercial station partnerships.
What to watch next: Mission assignments for this class, likely announced in 2024-2025 as training concludes.
Frequently asked questions
How many astronauts has NASA selected from MIT?
Including the new class, 44 NASA-selected astronauts have MIT backgrounds out of roughly 360 total selected since 1959.
What training do new astronaut candidates undergo?
A two-year program covering ISS systems, spacewalk operations, robotics, T-38 jet flight, and Russian language training.
What missions could new astronauts fly?
Missions to the International Space Station, commercial crew vehicles launching from US soil, and deep-space destinations including the Moon under NASA's Artemis program.