Meet Purdue’s Latest Space Pioneers: NASA’s Newest Astronaut Candidates Join the Cradle of Astronauts

Two Purdue University graduates, Adam Fuhrmann and Yuri Kubo, have just been selected as part of NASA’s 2025 class of astronaut candidates. This announcement adds them to the university’s prestigious “Cradle of Astronauts,” which now has 30 members.

Purdue President Mung Chiang expressed excitement about the new astronauts, saying, “Adam and Yuri will continue the legacy of exploration established by Purdue alumni like Neil Armstrong.” This legacy is rich, with Purdue producing many notable astronauts who contributed to space exploration history.

Adam Fuhrmann, who holds a master’s in systems engineering from Purdue (earned in 2022), is currently serving in the U.S. Air Force. Before becoming an astronaut candidate, he was the director of operations for an Air Force flight test unit.

Yuri Kubo, another Boilermaker, earned both a bachelor’s in electrical engineering (2008) and a master’s in electrical and computer engineering (2015) from Purdue. At the time of his selection, he was a senior vice president at Electric Hydrogen and was recently honored by Purdue’s College of Engineering.

The competition for these positions was fierce, with NASA receiving over 8,000 applications. The selected candidates will undergo two years of intensive training before embarking on missions to low Earth orbit, the moon, and even Mars.

Purdue’s connection to space exploration dates back to 1959 when Virgil “Gus” Grissom, a Purdue alum, became part of the historic Mercury Seven. Notably, Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon, graduated from Purdue in 1955, while Gene Cernan, the last person to walk on the moon, was a 1956 alum. Both received honorary doctorates from Purdue in 1970.

As technology and scientific understanding advance, institutions like Purdue continue to inspire future generations of explorers. Not only is Purdue focused on education, but it also strives for accessibility, maintaining a tuition freeze for 14 years. More than 106,000 students are enrolled at Purdue, showcasing its commitment to growth and excellence.

This exciting time in astronaut training reflects a broader trend in space exploration, where interest and investment continue to rise. With companies and organizations aiming for missions to Mars and beyond, the future of astronauts and space travel looks promising.

For more on NASA’s astronaut selection and the inspiring stories of Purdue alumni, visit NASA.

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