Helicopters on the Moon? NASA astronaut candidate’s skills could shape Lunar landings

Ben Bailey, one of the 10 members of NASA's 2025 astronaut candidate class, who is a helicopter pilot. (Image credit: Space.com / Josh Dinner)

When most people think of astronauts, they imagine rockets and weightless capsules adrift in space. Yet for NASA’s 2025 astronaut candidate Ben Bailey, the secret to conquering the Moon might just be found in the cockpit of a helicopter. With more than 2,000 hours of flying under his belt, Bailey is showing how rotary-wing expertise could prove vital to the Artemis programme's lunar ambitions.

Inspired by history, driven by innovation

Bailey’s passion for flying was first sparked by the 1995 film Apollo 13, which drew attention to the Navy’s helicopter operations during the recovery mission. Now, he’s channelling that inspiration into training that fuses traditional flying skills with the demands of modern space exploration. His story reflects how curiosity and ingenuity can reshape what it means to be truly “mission ready.”

The science behind the spin

NASA’s Human Landing System (HLS), built for highly precise lunar landings, may well call for skills not unlike those of helicopter pilots. Vertical lift-offs, steady hovering and quick, controlled adjustments are no longer just challenges of flying on Earth—they could be essential for touching down safely on the Moon’s rugged and unpredictable surface.

Training for the final frontier

Bailey and his fellow astronaut candidates are sharpening these techniques at Fort Novosel, where military-grade helicopter training meets the unique demands of navigating beyond Earth. The programme signals the blending of aviation and space science, preparing astronauts for a future where successful exploration of the Moon will require a rare balance of technical know-how and adaptability.