Explore. Discover. Dream. Former 1st FW pilot has new mission to stars

On Dec. 6, NASA announced their newest astronaut candidates. Among the 10 individuals selected was previous 71st Fighter Training Squadron T-38 Talon and 27th Fighter Squadron F-22 Raptor pilot, Maj. Nichole "Vapor" Ayers.

While she was a member of the 1st Fighter Wing, Ayers flew 450 hours as a T-38 pilot with the 71st FTS before flying the F-22 in the 27th FS. In total, Ayers flew more than 1,100 hours in the T-38 and the F-22.

Ayers was with her family when she got 'the call.'

An astronaut poses for a photo. — Shown is Maj. Nichole Ayers' NASA astronaut candidate portrait. Ayers, a former F-22 Raptor pilot, is one of 10 individuals selected to become NASA's newest astronauts. Ayers will report for training at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas in January 2022. (Courtesy photo by Robert Markowitz)

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