For the first time in its history, the new class of astronauts at NASA is made up equally of males and females, and women on board might end up making much bigger history than that some day down the line with a little trip to Mars.

The new NASA class’ female side is made up of Jessica Meir, Anne McClain, Christina Hammock Koch, and Nicole Aunapu Mann—a group that includes Harvard Medical School professors, Iraq War combat pilots, and South Pole explorers. 

We're eagerly awaiting your #JourneyToMars, ladies! https://t.co/k8PoRGB2r0 pic.twitter.com/GWN9dsFnyL

— Women@NASA (@WomenNASA) January 7, 2016

Making the cut to be a part of a new NASA class is not exactly easy. NASA only inducts new candidates every four or five years, and the testing process lasts about a year-and-a-half. When you hear the phrase “the best of the best of the best,” they are talking about these types of people.

What makes this group of women even more special is that they were told that they could one day lead the first human expedition to Mars, a 35 million-mile journey that will take months, though which might not be possible for another 15 years (I don’t know if Matt Damon can survive that long).

Make sure you head over to Glamour to read a lot more about these awesome women, one of whom might get the chance to take the first human set foot on our dusty red neighbor. Just imagine it: “That’s one small step for a women, one giant leap for everybody.”

Would you be willing to take the long journey to Mars and back? Tell us why in the comments below.

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HT: New York Times
Image: Glamour