NASA opens a new recruitment round
NASA has begun taking applications for a new group of astronauts, extending the Artemis program's push to put people back on the moon. According to The Guardian, the agency is looking for explorers who could eventually live and work on the lunar surface.
The agency said the people it picks would help "shape humanity's future in space" as it builds a moon base and prepares for the first crewed missions to Mars. The announcement came on Saturday at an air show at Kennedy Space Center that highlighted lunar exploration along with progress in aviation and technology.
What officials are saying
NASA administrator Jared Isaacman called this "an extraordinary time to join Nasa's astronaut corps." He added: "The people we select could walk on the Moon, live and work at the Moon Base, and help pioneer the systems and operations that will ultimately carry crews to Mars."
Scott Tingle, NASA's chief astronaut and chair of the Astronaut Selection Board at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, framed the job as more than a career move. "For those who apply, becoming a Nasa astronaut is more than a career opportunity," he said, describing it as a chance to join a legacy of explorers.
Who can apply
NASA said all applicants must be US citizens. They must also meet at least one of several qualifications: a master's degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics; medical qualifications; pilot training; or two years of work in a relevant doctoral program. Three years of related professional experience are required as well.
Pilots face additional flight-time requirements. They need either 750 hours as pilot in command of a high-performance jet, 1,500 total hours in another fixed-wing aircraft, or 1,000 total hours in a rotary-wing aircraft.
The application window closes on Thursday, 3 December, at night Eastern time, according to the agency's timeline as reported by The Guardian.
Background and what comes next
NASA expects to make its final selections in late 2027, at which point the new astronaut candidates would start training. The agency last accepted applications in 2024. In September 2025, it welcomed 10 new astronauts chosen from more than 8,000 applicants.
Since the 1960s, NASA has selected 370 people to train as astronaut candidates for increasingly demanding missions. The corps currently has 32 active astronauts.
Isaacman and other agency leaders recently described NASA's ambition to return Americans to the moon in 2028. Both SpaceX and Blue Origin plan to support a crewed lunar landing, according to the report.
