FEBRUARY 11, 2026 – T-minus 3, 2, 1 … We have liftoff! The ground rumbled as the engines roared to life. Smoke and flames erupted out of the bottom as it began to lift into the sky, ascending higher until it was finally out of sight. There are some kids who see a rocket take off and begin to dream of becoming astronauts; there are some kids who make that dream come true.
Lt. Col. Katherine Spies graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and later earned a master’s degree in design engineering from Harvard University. She was sure that she would become an engineer and maybe a pilot in the future. She made that happen one step at a time, accomplishing every goal she set her mind to.
Spies joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and became an AH-1W Super Cobra pilot and has flown more than 30 different aircraft, logging over 2,000 flight hours, with more than 300 hours being in combat zones. She has been in the Selected Marine Corps Reserve for five years and is now currently serving in the Marine Corps Reserve at Headquarters Battalion, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, as a liaison officer.
Southern California has some of the greatest Marine Corps bases as well as strong aviation history. Because of this, Spies grew up attending air shows and watching shuttles land at Camp Edwards. She would tell everyone that these were the two main things that set her goal of becoming an astronaut in motion.
“Growing up, I was able to go to some of the Marine Corps’ air shows and shake hands with some Marine Corps astronauts,” Spies said. “Becoming an astronaut was definitely a goal, but definitely something so far in the future that instead you’re working toward smaller goals in the hopes that maybe one day that could be you.”
“I love the Marine Corps and I am very excited to continue to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve and I hope that I can continue to do that in the future with NASA.” Lt. Col. Katherine Spies, Marine Corps Reserve at Headquarters Battalion Liaison Officer
Although Spies is not currently in a flight status for the Marine Corps, she is able to fly in the T-38 Talon as part of the training program at NASA. This is a training jet traditionally used by the Air Force and also at the Naval Test Pilot School, where Marines train to become pilots. This allows her to continue flying and maintain her flight hours during her training at NASA.
“They are actually about to get TH-57s which are the trainers that are traditionally used in Pensacola to train Marine Corps helicopter pilots, so I am super excited to soon be able to fly the TH-57s here in Houston.”
NASA is currently preparing astronaut candidates for missions to the International Space Station, which is now in its 25th year of habitation. They are also preparing them for missions to the moon and to Mars. These missions are part of the Artemis Generation which was established by NASA in order to conduct more studies on the moon and potentially living and working there. This will later pave the way for crewed missions to Mars and beyond.
Because of the expeditionary nature of these missions, the Marine Corps has set Spies up for success by providing her the training that she needs to adapt and overcome in many different scenarios.
“The Marine Corps, of all institutions, is incredible at doing expeditionary work,” she said. “I think the two Marine Expeditionary Units that I was with were probably the bedrock training for my work here at NASA.”
Spies’ time in the 31st MEU and the 15th MEU prepared her to live in remote and austere locations with a small group of people while still accomplishing the mission at hand.
“I think I can speak for my classmates as well just how much our military training contributes to why we are here, and I think I am specifically lucky to have the Marine Corps training because of the expeditionary aspect of it.”
That background has helped Spies be able to adapt to any situation at hand and be ready to face any challenge head-on during training and future missions. Her expeditionary training from the Marine Corps puts her at an advantage for her future missions. She is able to withstand the difficulties that come with the exploration into territory that has never been visited by humans themselves.
“We are getting as smart as possible in the categories that have been deemed most important. Some of that includes robotics, systems training, foreign language training, jet and helicopter training and extravehicular activity training, which is how we learn to do spacewalks, Right now, building this foundation is the heart of my work.” Lt. Col. Katherine Spies, Marine Corps Reserve at Headquarters Battalion Liaison Officer
“We are getting as smart as possible in the categories that have been deemed most important. Some of that includes robotics, systems training, foreign language training, jet and helicopter training and extravehicular activity training, which is how we learn to do spacewalks,” Spies said. “Right now, building this foundation is the heart of my work.”
Spies is most excited about training for the spacewalks and being able to finally put on her spacesuit to make the final adjustments to its fit. Tracy Caldwell Dyson, NASA astronaut, mentor and inspiration to Spies, has helped her learn how to put her suit on correctly.
“It was such an incredible day to have this legend of an astronaut helping to get this suit on.” she said, “I think this one piece of the training has been so rewarding and so exciting.”
Spies plans to continue her career in the Marine Corps Reserve while she is in training for the next two years at NASA. She is also looking at potentially going back into an active-duty status.
“I love the Marine Corps and I am very excited to continue to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve and I hope that I can continue to do that in the future with NASA.”
Spies continues to use her Marine Corps training to help develop her skills throughout her training at NASA.
To those that have big goals to work with NASA, she says this, “Stay curious and try to understand why, what and how. Whether that is looking at a new shrimp at the bottom of the ocean, how a rock came to be in the center of the desert or how to put an aircraft together or why a radio can transmit something to a satellite. Whatever it is, it is remaining curious that enables you to get to the next step.”
Spies will continue her training with NASA by participating in many types of training to be as prepared as possible for her future missions to the ISS, the moon and Mars.
“I personally think there is no better subset of trained people to be astronauts than U.S. Marines.”
The next time you see the ISS pass by in the night sky or hear about a NASA mission taking place, remember that a U.S. Marine is watching over the Earth from space.
Sgt. Emily De La Torre
U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve