Johns Hopkins University alum Andre Douglas, Engr '19 (MS), has been selected as one of four astronauts for the NASA Artemis III mission supporting future lunar landings and other journeys into the solar system.
On his path to become an astronaut, Douglas earned his master's degree in electrical and computer engineering through the Whiting School's Engineering for Professionals online program while working at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory designing and testing multidomain autonomous vehicles, space exploration systems, and numerous undersea warfare platforms. Now, he's headed to Earth's orbit on a mission slated to blast off in late 2027.
The mission is Douglas' first spaceflight. Selected by NASA in the 2021 astronaut candidate class, he previously served as a backup and closeout crew member for the agency's Artemis II mission. A Virginia native, Douglas earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and four postgraduate degrees from various institutions, including a doctorate in systems engineering from George Washington University. During his time in the Coast Guard, he conducted search and rescue, maritime salvage, and drug interdiction operations.
When he spoke to the Hub in 2022, Douglas recounted his impressive career trajectory: "My way was definitely unconventional, having a Coast Guard engineer end up as an astronaut," he said. "I always tell people—it sounds cliché, but follow your passion. There's many paths to getting there."
Douglas is one of many Hopkins affiliates working with NASA, including:
- Reid Wiseman, Engr '06 (MS), commander of Artemis II, the daring voyage that captivated the world in April when it sent four astronauts on a journey looping around the moon.
- Two Hopkins affiliates were selected for NASA's 2025 astronaut class: Rebecca Lawler, who earned her master's degree in space systems engineering through the Engineering for Professionals program in 2018, and Imelda Muller, who was completing a residency in anesthesiology at the School of Medicine when she was accepted to NASA.
- Three alums of the master's in science writing program in the Krieger School are on NASA's communications team: Andrea Lloyd, A&S '25 (MA), Thalia Patrinos, A&S '14, '21(MA), and Madison Tuttle, A&S '21 (MA).
Image caption: The Artemis III crew. From left: Andre Douglas, Luca Parmitano, Randy Bresnik, and Frank Rubio
Image credit: NASA / Robert Markowitz
