Phoenix-Area Native Is In Nasa's Next Class Of Astronaut Recruits

PHOENIX, AZ — Christina Birch, who grew up in Gilbert, is one of only 10 people in the country selected as a 2021 NASA astronaut candidate.

Birch was chosen from a field of more than 12,000 applicants to be part of the first new class of NASA astronaut candidates in four years, according to a news release from NASA.

In January, the astronaut candidates will begin their two years of training at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Birch, 35, graduated from Gilbert High School in 2004. She then earned bachelor’s degrees in mathematics, biochemistry and molecular biophysics from the University of Arizona. In 2015 she earned a doctorate in biological engineering from MIT.

After earning her doctorate, Birch taught bioengineering at the University of California, Riverside, for two years and then moved to Caltech where she taught scientific writing and communication.

In 2018 Birch left Caltech to race as a track cyclist on the U.S. National Team. As part of the team, Birch earned three World Cup medals and participated twice in the World Championships.

According to the news release, as one of NASA's 2021 astronaut candidates, Birch will train in: "operating and maintaining the International Space Station's complex systems, training for spacewalks, developing complex robotics skills, safely operating a T-38 training jet, and Russian language skills."

Following their two years of training, the astronaut candidates could be assigned to do research on the space station, launch into space from the United States on crafts built by commercial companies or to complete deep space missions, possibly landing on the moon.

Click here to read about the rest of the 10 new astronaut candidates.