Nasa reveals new astronauts for Moon and Mars missions

Nasa, the US space agency, has introduced its newest astronauts to explore the Moon and possibly Mars.

The 10 candidates, including scientists, test pilots and engineers, were picked from 8,000 applicants from across the United States.

The 2025 Astronaut Candidate Class will now complete two years of training before being ready for missions.

These missions could include trips to a space station, to the Moon, and even to Mars.

Six women and four men make up the astronaut class, which was revealed at Nasa's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

They include a geologist who worked on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover, an engineer who has already been to space on a Space X flight which saw the world's first private spacewalk, and several test pilots.

This is the 24th astronaut class for Nasa since the original Mercury Seven, all military test pilots, were announced in 1959.

The group will now begin training, taking lessons in spaceflight, spacewalks, engineering and other skills needed to go to space.

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy welcomed the new astronauts during the ceremony.

"I'm honoured to welcome the next generation of American explorers to our agency! More than 8,000 people applied – scientists, pilots, engineers, dreamers from every corner of this nation.

"The 10 men and women sitting here today embody the truth that in America, regardless of where you start, there is no limit to what a determined dreamer can achieve – even going to space," said Duffy.