| Nichole Ayers | |
| Birth Place: | San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Other Names: | Vapor |
| Education: | United States Air Force Academy (BS) Rice University (MS) |
| Type: | NASA astronaut |
| Rank: | Major, USAF |
| Selection: | NASA Group 23 (2021) |
| Missions: | SpaceX Crew-10 (Expedition 72/73) |
Nichole Ayers (born 1988/1989)[1] is a major in the United States Air Force and NASA astronaut. She is currently a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado.[2] [3]
Nichole Ayers graduated from Woodland Park High School in Woodland Park, Colorado. Afterwards, she attended the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), where she graduated a bachelor's degree in mathematics (with a minor in Russian) in 2011. She earned a master's degree in computational and applied mathematics from Rice University in 2013.[4]
In 2014, Nichole Ayers completed flight training, and flew the T-38 for an adversary squadron at Langley Air Force Base. She later became a flight instructor, providing adversary training to F-22 Raptor units based at Langley. In 2018, Ayers completed training for the F-22, and currently serves as a flight instructor for the F-22. Ayers has logged more than 200 flight hours during Operation Inherent Resolve. At the time of her selection as an Astronaut Candidate, Ayers was the assistant director of operations of the 90th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base.[4]
On December 6, 2021, Nichole Ayers was revealed to be one of ten candidates selected as part NASA Astronaut Group 23.
Ayers and her twin sister, Cydnee, were born in San Diego, California, but she considers Colorado Springs and Divide, Colorado, home. Ayers and her husband, Justin, were married in New Zealand in early 2020 and enjoy sailing, camping, hiking, biking, and working on home projects together.
Ayers was a distinguished graduate of the USAFA and Undergraduate Pilot Training. She has received the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Operation Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal.