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Little Elm Native Rebecca Lawler Named to NASA’s 2025 Astronaut Candidate Class

The North Texas test pilot now begins nearly two years of astronaut training leading to mission eligibility.

Overview

  • NASA selected 10 candidates from more than 8,000 applicants for the 2025 class, confirming Lawler’s inclusion.
  • Lawler, 38, grew up in Little Elm and previously served as a U.S. Navy lieutenant commander, P-3 pilot and experimental test pilot.
  • She has nearly 3,000 flight hours across more than 45 aircraft and most recently was a test pilot for United Airlines.
  • Her experience includes NOAA hurricane reconnaissance flights and participation in NASA’s Operation IceBridge.
  • The cohort will train for nearly two years before joining the active astronaut corps and becoming eligible for missions to low Earth orbit, the Moon and Mars.