NASA opens applications for next astronaut class to train for moon, Mars missions

CAPE CANAVERAL · NASA is searching for a new generation of astronauts to train for future missions to the moon and Mars. The agency announced the application period on Saturday, saying selected candidates will help build a lunar base and pioneer systems for the first crewed journeys to the red planet. Applicants have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, Dec. 3, to submit their materials. NASA expects to make its final selections in late 2027.

"This is an extraordinary time to join NASA’s astronaut corps," said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. "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." The new recruits will undergo training in spacewalking, lunar geology and operating spacecraft. They may also explore the lunar South Pole, an area never visited by humans.

All applicants must be U.S. citizens and hold an advanced degree. Eligible qualifications include a master's degree in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics field, or progress toward a doctorate. Medical degrees or graduation from a test pilot school by July 2027 also meet the requirement. Candidates need at least three years of related professional experience or specific flight hours for pilots.

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Pilots can meet the experience requirement with 750 hours commanding a high-performance jet, or 1,500 total flight hours in fixed-wing aircraft. For rotary-wing pilots, 1,000 total hours with 300 in command qualifies. Medical doctors may count residency training completed by July 2027. All candidates must pass a long-duration spaceflight physical and show strong leadership and communication skills.

"For those who apply, becoming a NASA astronaut is more than a career opportunity," said Scott Tingle, chief astronaut and chair of the Astronaut Selection Board at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. "It is a chance to join a legacy of explorers who have pushed the boundaries of discovery and play a role in the missions that will shape humanity’s future in space." Since the 1960s, NASA has chosen 370 astronaut candidates. The agency currently has 32 active astronauts.

The recruitment supports NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return Americans to the moon by 2028. The announcement was made during an air show at Florida's Kennedy Space Center promoting lunar exploration. The call for applicants follows the recent launch of the SpaceX Crew-13 mission, which carried a crew including Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk. Your Space Hamilton reported in October that Kutryk is scheduled to perform a spacewalk to install new solar arrays at the International Space Station.

With files from FOX Weather and The Guardian