Posted: Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 2:47 AM ET (0647 GMT)
NASA announced Monday a new class of nine astronauts, the first exclusively post-shuttle group of astronauts. The nine people, ranging in age from 30 to 43, have backgrounds ranging from test pilots to scientists. The nine were selected from a pool of over 3,500 applicants, and will begin training later this year, joining astronauts selected in recent months by Canada, Europe, and Japan. None of the nine are expected to fly on the shuttle, which is scheduled to be retired in 2010, before the end of their two-year training program.

Related Links:

•  SPACE.com article
•  Florida Today article
•  NASA press release