April 8, 2025
I am seen as maybe unique, but I am with an entire class of amazing people with amazing backgrounds.
NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, reflecting on his journey to becoming an astronaut. Kim arrived at the International Space Station Tuesday morning after launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with two Russian cosmonauts.
Why It Matters: Jonny Kim, 41, is a former Navy SEAL, medical doctor and now an astronaut, and also the first Korean-American on the International Space Station. Kim will take part in an eight-month mission in space to conduct research that may one day help astronauts make advancements in space explorations, including landing on Mars.
On Kim’s graduation as an astronaut, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) commented, “He can kill you and then bring you back to life. And do it all in space.”
Read More: Navy SEAL. Harvard Doctor. NASA Astronaut. Don’t Tell Mom About This Overachiever. (Wall Street Journal)
NASA astronaut reaches ISS with two Russians: What to know about Jonny Kim (USA Today)
Listen: The Unimaginable Path of Jonny Kim. SEAL Combat Medic, Doctor, Astronaut (Jocko Podcast: Apple, Spotify)
Image Credit: NASA
by Stephanie Wagner, based in Florida
