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NASA Astronaut Group 16

NASA Astronaut Group 16 ("The Sardines") was a group of 44 astronauts announced by NASA on May 1, 1996.[1] The class was nicknamed "The Sardines" for being such a large class, humorously implying that their training sessions would be as tightly packed as sardines in a can.[2] These 44 candidates compose the largest astronaut class to date. NASA selected so many candidates in preparation for the anticipated need for ISS crew members, along with regular shuttle needs. Nine of the 44 astronauts selected were from other countries including 5 from Europe and 2 from Canada and Japan.

The Sardines

1996

44

Three members of this group, William C. McCool, David M. Brown, and Laurel B. Clark, died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.[3][4][5] These three received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.[6]

(1 flight)[7]

Duane G. Carey

(1 flight; died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster)[43]

David M. Brown

(Spain; 2 flights)[111]

Pedro Duque