Science & Tech · Space · 11 hrs ago
NASA opens applications for new astronaut class tied to Artemis
NASA is accepting applications for a new astronaut class to support its Artemis program and plans for a permanent moon base.
The announcement was made Saturday at an air show at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
NASA has 32 active astronauts, and its last recruitment round drew more than 8,000 applicants, with 10 selected.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens with college degrees and professional work experience, and they have until Dec.
3 to apply.
NASA expects to make its final choices by late 2027, with training starting by early 2028.
The new recruits may support missions to the moon and low-Earth orbit, as NASA aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface in 2028.
The next Artemis mission will test docking with two lunar landers, ahead of a planned 2028 landing near the moon’s south pole.
NASA is accepting applications for a new astronaut class to support the Artemis program and plans for a permanent lunar base.
Applications are due Dec. 3, and NASA expects to make its final selections by late 2027.
The new candidates are expected to begin training by early 2028, the year NASA intends to return astronauts to the lunar surface.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens with college degrees and professional work experience.
NASA’s last astronaut recruitment, two years earlier, drew more than 8,000 applicants, of whom 10 were selected.
- Who
- NASA is recruiting a new class of astronauts.
- What
- The agency is accepting applications to expand its astronaut corps for Artemis and other missions.
- When
- Applications are due Dec. 3. Selections are expected by late 2027, with training starting by early 2028.
- Where
- NASA announced the recruitment at an air show at Kennedy Space Center.
- Why
- NASA says it needs more astronauts for its work beyond low-Earth orbit and plans to return people to the lunar surface.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
NASA’s previous astronaut recruitment drew more than 8,000 applicants, and 10 made the final cut in September 2025.
NASA announced it was accepting applications for a new astronaut class at an air show at Kennedy Space Center.
Applications for the new class are due.
NASA expects to make its final selection.
The new candidates are expected to begin training, the year NASA intends to return astronauts to the lunar surface.
- Previous recruitment
- More than 8,000 applicants; 10 selected
- Application deadline
- Dec. 3
- Final selection
- Expected by late 2027
- Training
- Expected to begin by early 2028
- Eligibility
- U.S. citizenship, college degree and professional work experience
- Active astronaut corps
- 32 astronauts
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What people are saying
We have far more work than we have astronauts
we’re going to have people on the moon — so don’t delay
It’s important for them to realize most of that work is not going to the moon, right?