NASA is seeking a fresh cohort of explorers to help turn a lunar outpost into a permanent home.
Key points
- Applications close at 11:59 p.m. ET on 3 December; only U.S. citizens with a STEM master’s degree, medical credentials, or specific pilot experience may apply.
- NASA aims to finalize the new astronaut class by late 2027, building on a 2024 recruitment that added ten astronauts from over 8,000 applicants.
- The selected astronauts will contribute to the Artemis program’s lunar base and the agency’s target of a crewed Moon landing in 2028, with eventual missions to Mars.
At a Kennedy Space Center air show promoting lunar exploration, NASA announced that it is now accepting applications for the next generation of astronauts who could eventually reside and operate on the Moon. Administrator Jared Isaacman described the moment as “an extraordinary time to join NASA’s astronaut corps,” adding that the chosen candidates may walk on the Moon, live at a lunar base, and help develop the systems that will later carry crews to Mars.
The agency says only U.S. citizens are eligible, and applicants must hold a master’s degree in a STEM field, have medical qualifications, or be qualified pilots. Pilots need either 750 hours as pilot‑in‑command of a high‑performance jet, 1,500 total flight hours in another fixed‑wing aircraft, or 1,000 hours in a rotary‑wing aircraft. In addition, three years of relevant professional experience are required. The deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. ET on 3 December.
Eligibility and Application Deadline
NASA expects to announce the final roster in late 2027, with training to begin shortly thereafter. The most recent recruitment round, opened in 2024, resulted in ten new astronauts being selected from more than 8,000 applicants in September 2025. Today the agency’s astronaut corps comprises 32 active members, and since the 1960s a total of 370 people have been trained as astronaut candidates.
Chief astronaut Scott Tingle, who chairs the Astronaut Selection Board, emphasized that joining NASA goes beyond a career move, describing it as “a chance to join a legacy of explorers who have pushed the boundaries of discovery.” He linked the new class to NASA’s broader goal of returning Americans to the Moon by 2028, noting that commercial partners such as SpaceX and Blue Origin are slated to support the crewed lunar landing.
What the New Class Could Do
If selected, candidates will help shape the infrastructure and operations of the planned Moon base, a stepping stone toward the agency’s long‑term vision of crewed missions to Mars.
Reader questions
Who can apply for NASA’s new astronaut program?
U.S. citizens who hold a master’s degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, have medical qualifications, or meet specific pilot‑hour requirements, plus at least three years of related professional experience.
When is the deadline to submit an application?
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, 3 December.
Source: theguardian.com
