The announcement is part of the Space Day celebration at the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. The program begins at 9:30 a.m. EDT and will be broadcast live on NASA Television.
Speakers include NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe, Director of the National Air and Space Museum Gen. John Dailey, former Senator John Glenn, current and former astronauts.
The Space Day theme is "Blazing Galactic Trails," and that is just what this astronaut class will do. It is made up of pilots, engineers, researchers, and educators who will focus their careers on fulfilling the Vision for Space Exploration. During their NASA careers, members of the 2004 astronaut class may help develop the Crew Exploration Vehicle, study the effects of microgravity on the human body, and possibly help plan the first lunar missions. The class begins training this summer at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
NASA TV will also feed video of the astronaut class beginning at noon EDT May 6. The Video File will include sound bites and b-roll of the class members.