NASA astronaut applications open for future moon and Mars missions
NASA has opened applications for a new class of astronauts to support the Artemis program, lunar base development, and future Mars missions.
The United States space agency has officially launched a recruitment drive to find a new generation of explorers for future missions to the moon and Mars. Announced during a Kennedy Space Center air show, the recruitment effort aims to expand the NASA astronaut corps as the agency advances its Artemis program and works toward establishing a permanent lunar presence.
“This is an extraordinary time to join Nasa’s astronaut corps,” said Jared Isaacman, NASA administrator. “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.”
Interested candidates have until 11.59pm ET on Thursday, 3 December, to submit their applications. To qualify, applicants must hold US citizenship and possess a master’s degree in a STEM field, medical qualifications, pilot training, or two years of work toward a relevant doctoral program, alongside three years of related professional experience. Pilot applicants face specific flight hour requirements, including 750 hours of pilot-in-command time in a high-performance jet, 1,500 total flight hours in another fixed-wing aircraft, or 1,000 total flight hours in a rotary-wing aircraft.
Selection Timeline and Corps History
NASA anticipates announcing its final selections in late 2027 to begin training the incoming cohort. The agency previously opened applications in 2024, resulting in 10 new selections from a pool exceeding 8,000 applicants in September 2025. Since the 1960s, NASA has selected 370 individuals for astronaut candidate training, maintaining an active corps of 32 astronauts.
“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 in Houston. “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.”
Agency leaders recently outlined plans to return Americans to the lunar surface in 2028, with support from commercial aerospace providers SpaceX and Blue Origin.