Nichole Ayers
Nichole Ayers | |
|---|---|
Ayers in 2024 | |
| Born | Nichole Rhea Stilwell 13 December 1988 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Education | |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
Time in space | 115 days, 1 hour, 56 minutes (currently in space) |
| Selection | NASA Group 23 (2021) |
Total EVAs | 1 |
Total EVA time | 5 hours, 44 minutes |
| Missions | |
Mission insignia | |
| Military career | |
| Nickname(s) | "Vapor" |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Years | 2011–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 90th Fighter Squadron (former) |
| Combat operations | Operation Inherent Resolve Operation Spartan Shield |
Nichole Rhea Ayers (née Stilwell; born 13 December 1988)[1][2] is a major in the United States Air Force and NASA astronaut. She is currently a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado.[3][4]
Education
Nichole Ayers graduated from Woodland Park High School in Woodland Park, Colorado. Afterward, she attended the United States Air Force Academy, where she graduated with 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.[5]
Career
In 2014, 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, serving as a flight instructor for the F-22. Ayers has logged over 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.[5]
On 6 December 2021, Nichole Ayers was revealed to be one of ten candidates selected as part of the NASA Astronaut Group 23.
In August 2024, Ayers received her first spaceflight assignment. On 14 March 2025, she launched to the International Space Station as the pilot of the SpaceX Crew-10 mission. She will remain aboard the station for six months as part of the crew of Expedition 72 and 73. Crew-10 is scheduled to return to Earth in July 2025.[6]
In April 2025, Ayers was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in a surprise ceremony while aboard the International Space Station.[7]
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.[5]
Awards and honors
Ayers was a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy 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.[5]
References
- ^ "Former Falcon Nichole (Stilwell) Ayers Joins NASA Astronaut Corps". Air Force Academy Athletics. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ Flynn, Colleen (6 December 2021). "Colorado Air Force major chosen for NASA 2021 astronaut class". KDVR. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ Margetta, Robert (6 December 2021). "NASA Selects New Astronaut Recruits to Train for Future Missions". NASA.
- ^ Butzer, Stephanie (6 December 2021). "Colorado woman selected amid thousands as new NASA astronaut candidate". The Denver Post. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ a b c d Mars, Kelli (3 December 2021). "NASA Astronaut Candidate Nichole Ayers". NASA.
- ^ "NASA Shares its SpaceX Crew-10 Assignments for Space Station Mission - NASA". Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Ayers, Nichole (4 April 2025). "Found out I was selected for the rank of Lt Col!! And in the coolest possible way, surrounded by our @nasajohnson and @nasa_marshall ground team, friends, and family (even up here on the @iss!) HUGE thanks to my crewmates, Tak, @astro_annimal, and @astro_pettit for making it a surprise and a wonderful evening". Instagram. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
This article incorporates public domain material from NASA Astronaut Nichole Ayers. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.