NASA announced it has chosen 10 new astronaut candidates to spend two years training for space missions.

Out of 12,000 applicants, one Arizona woman was picked for the 2021 astronaut class, the first in four years.

Christina Birch, 35, grew up in Gilbert and graduated from the University of Arizona with two bachelor’s degrees. She earned her doctorate degree from MIT.

Another candidate, Jessica Wittner, 38, is also an alum from UA.