Long Island Native Could Be First Woman To Walk On Moon

BALDWIN, NY — A Long Island native is among 18 astronauts selected by NASA to potentially be part of the space agency's first human mission to the moon in decades, and could even be the first woman to ever set foot on the lunar surface.

In January, Baldwin native Jasmin Moghbeli was named one of NASA's newest astronauts. On Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence announced that she was among 18 astronauts selected for NASA's Artemis Team — part of the agency's plan to return humans to the moon. NASA plans to land the next man — and the first woman — on the moon in 2024, and Moghbeli could be going on the trip.

“There is so much exciting work ahead of us as we return to the moon, and it will take the entire astronaut corps to make that happen,” Chief Astronaut Pat Forrester said. “Walking on the lunar surface would be a dream come true for any one of us, and any part we can play in making that happen is an honor. I am proud of this particular group of men and women and know that any of them would do an outstanding job representing NASA and the United States on a future Artemis mission.”

Moghbeli was born in Bad Nauheim, Germany, but grew up in Baldwin and graduated from Baldwin High School. After high school, she earned a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering with information technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and then a master's degree in aerospace engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

She later graduated from the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland. When she was selected for the astronaut program, she was test-flying H-1 helicopters and serving as the quality assurance and avionics officer for Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 of the U.S. Marine Corps in Yuma, Arizona. She is a major in the Marine Corps.

She has been a pilot for years and has extensive experience in the air. According to NASA, she has more than 1,600 hours of flight time and has flown 150 combat missions.

“I want to extend my congratulations to Astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli on this truly incredible career achievement,” said Rep. Kathleen Rice, who represents Baldwin. “Jasmin will be part of a historic mission that will strengthen American leadership in space exploration and expand our knowledge of the solar system. All of us back in New York are proud and extend our best wishes to the team as they begin their training.”