Nichole Ayers
NASA portrait, 2021
Born1988 or 1989 (age 34–35)[1]
San Diego, California, U.S.
StatusActive
Alma mater
Space career
NASA astronaut
RankMajor, USAF
SelectionNASA Group 23

Nichole "Vapor" Ayers is a major in the United States Air Force and NASA astronaut candidate. She is currently a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado.[2][3]

Education

Nichole Ayers graduated from Woodland Park High School in Woodland Park, Colorado. Afterwards, she attended the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), where she graduated a bachelor's degree in mathematics (with a minor in Russian) in 2011. She earned a master's degree in computational and applied mathematics from Rice University in 2013.[4]

Career

In 2014, Nichole Ayers completed flight training, and flew the T-38 for an adversary squadron at Langley Air Force Base. She later became a flight instructor, providing adversary training to F-22 Raptor units based at Langley. In 2018, Ayers completed training for the F-22, and currently serves as a flight instructor for the F-22. Ayers has logged more than 200 flight hours during Operation Inherent Resolve. At the time of her selection as an Astronaut Candidate, Ayers was the assistant director of operations of the 90th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base.[4]

Astronaut candidacy

On December 6, 2021, Nichole Ayers was revealed to be one of ten candidates selected as part NASA Astronaut Group 23.

Personal life

Ayers and her twin sister, Cydnee, were born in San Diego, California, but she considers Colorado Springs and Divide, Colorado, home. Ayers and her husband, Justin, were married in New Zealand in early 2020 and enjoy sailing, camping, hiking, biking, and working on home projects together.[4]

Awards and honors

Ayers was a distinguished graduate of the USAFA and Undergraduate Pilot Training. She has received the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Operation Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Flynn, Colleen (December 6, 2021). "Colorado Air Force major chosen for NASA 2021 astronaut class". KDVR. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  2. ↑ Margetta, Robert (December 6, 2021). "NASA Selects New Astronaut Recruits to Train for Future Missions". NASA.
  3. ↑ Butzer, Stephanie (December 6, 2021). "Colorado woman selected amid thousands as new NASA astronaut candidate". The Denver Post. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Mars, Kelli (December 3, 2021). "NASA Astronaut Candidate Nichole Ayers". NASA.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from NASA Astronaut Candidate Nichole Ayers. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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