Jose Hurtado, a UTEP professor of geological sciences, is among the astronaut semifinalists of the selection process for NASA’S astronaut corps.

Out of the original 18,300 applicants, Hurtado is among the best 120 who are looking forward to flying in space as an astronaut.

This is not the first time that Hurtado has made it this far–in 2008 and 2012 he was among the semifinalists. Now Hurtado awaits interviews  at the NASA Johnson Space Center later this year.

“This is exciting for me since it has been my aspiration, for as long as I can remember, to be an astronaut and fly in space and to serve my country as an explorer,” Hurtado said in a press release. “To have a chance to see that dream come into fruition is very gratifying. For UTEP, I hope my success in this process serves as an inspiration to others, particularly the young people and students of our community, and as a way to show UTEP as a place of excellence and possibility.”