KIRO NEWSRADIO OPINION

Jake and Spike applaud Sammamish woman selected as NASA astronaut candidate

Sep 25, 2025, 5:01 AM

A woman from Sammamish is one of 10 people selected out of 8,000 applicants to join NASA’s latest astronaut candidate class, The Seattle Times reported Tuesday.

Lauren Edgar, 40, will embark on an intensive two-year training program, learning how to fly, spacewalk, and perform space station operations.

“Think about what a standout she must be,” KIRO host Jake Skorheim said on “The Jake and Spike Show.”

“The culmination of a lifelong dream, it’s going to be tough,” KIRO host Spike O’Neill responded. “The astronaut training is tough, as it should be. But kudos to her.”

Edgar has a master’s degree and a doctorate in geology from the California Institute of Technology, according to The Seattle Times. She also worked at the U.S. Geological Survey as part of the Astrogeology Science Center.

“She’s very smart, so I think she’s going to do well,” Jake said.

“Very proud to have a local there,” Spike shared.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

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Jake and Spike applaud Sammamish woman selected as NASA astronaut candidate