NASA's New Astronauts Named "Platypi" for Hidden Talents

NASA's newest astronaut candidates have earned an unusual honor: a nickname inspired by one of Earth's most remarkable creatures.

The ten explorers training at Johnson Space Center in Houston are now officially called "the Platypi." Selected in 2025, they're preparing for future missions to the International Space Station, the Moon, and eventually Mars.

The name came from the previous astronaut class, known as the Flies, who watched the new candidates work together during their first months of training. NASA astronaut Anil Menon said the name fits perfectly. "They're like the Swiss Army knife of candidates," he explained. "They can use just about any tool to solve any problem or challenge they face."

Just like the platypus combines features of different animals while thriving in its environment, the Platypi bring wildly different backgrounds to a unified team. Menon noted their standout quality wasn't flashiness but something deeper. "This class stood out as extremely capable, with a lot of different skills, while also being very friendly and supportive of each other," he said.

The candidates have already packed months of intense preparation into their schedules. They've learned to operate the Canadarm2 robotic arm used to capture visiting spacecraft and support spacewalks on the space station. They've completed land and water survival training to prepare for emergency landings in remote locations.

Astronaut candidate Lauren Edgar said the complexity impressed her most. "It's amazing to see how it all works together and how to fix things when needed," she said about the station's systems that have kept humans in space continuously for 25 years.

Yuri Kubo, another candidate, found surprises in unexpected places. "The diversity of the training as well as the focus on psychological, physical, and expeditionary skills has been the most surprising to me," he said. "It is amazing what we can achieve with dedication and hard work and an amazing team of people to support you."

Why This Inspires

The Platypi nickname represents something bigger than a fun team name. In an era when space exploration demands collaboration across nations and disciplines, this class embodies the future of human spaceflight. Their training includes underwater spacewalk rehearsals, supersonic jet flights, and shifts in Mission Control to understand every perspective of a mission.

Anna Menon summed up the team's energy simply: "There is a lot to learn, and I'm excited about every chapter!"

Like the platypus that shouldn't work on paper but thrives in reality, these ten individuals are proving that diverse talents united by a common goal can prepare humanity for its next giant leap.