STEPHANIE WILSON

Astronaut Stephanie Wilson can be seen 4,800 square feet (446 square meters) tall in a new "Earthwork" portrait in Atlanta, Georgia.

Nine women are among the 18 astronauts who will train for NASA's upcoming Artemis missions, with the goal of sending humans back to the moon and, eventually, to Mars. The space agency is aiming for a 2024 moon landing — and this time, it won't just be men making the trip. NASA has promised that the Artemis program will send the first woman to walk on the moon. Astronaut Stephanie Wilson NASAWilson is the longest-serving astronaut on the Artemis team, selected in 1996. Nicole Mann, 43Nicole Mann, one of the rookies on NASA's Artemis team, was born in Petaluma, California and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S.

The first woman and next man on the moon will come from this elite group. Vice President Mike Pence introduced the astronauts Wednesday at the close of his final meeting as chairman of the National Space Council. The space agency is aiming for a moon landing by 2024, although the chances of that happening are growing increasingly dim. Half of the NASA astronauts have spaceflight experience. “The history is awesome, but we’re here to look toward the future,” Acaba told reporters after the announcement.

Both missions would launch with four people, with two astronauts becoming the next astronauts to walk on the moon on Artemis III. (Image credit: NASA via collectSPACE.com)The Artemis TeamThe 18 members of NASA's Artemis Team were chosen from the 47 astronauts currently active in the program . Half of the Artemis Team has previously flown into space — two of the members are currently aboard the International Space Station. The team members will also help define and develop the training programs to prepare for missions to land on and orbit the moon. NASA anticipates adding more members to the Artemis Team, including members of its next astronaut class due to be selected in late 2021. International astronauts from NASA's partner nations will also be assigned to Artemis missions.