NASA is looking for new recruits to join its astronaut corps and contribute to the Artemis program, which aims to establish a permanent base on the Moon. The application window is open until December 3.
Officials announced the call for new astronauts during an air show at the Kennedy Space Center, emphasizing the program's focus on lunar exploration and advancements in aviation and technology. This marks NASA's 25th astronaut class selection since 1959.
The space agency currently has 32 active astronauts and requires more personnel to expand humanity's presence beyond low-Earth orbit. The Artemis II mission, which conducted a lunar flyaround in April, marked the beginning of the lunar campaign. Artemis III commander Randy Bresnik stated that the agency has "far more work than we have astronauts."
Potential candidates must be U.S. citizens with college degrees and professional work experience. The selection process is lengthy, with final selections expected by late 2027 and training commencing in early 2028. The agency plans to return astronauts to the lunar surface in 2028, over 50 years after the last human landing.
Aspiring astronauts should anticipate rigorous, two-year training programs. Artemis III astronaut Frank Rubio, who holds the U.S. record for the longest consecutive time in space at 371 days, noted that the majority of an astronaut's career involves supporting missions rather than spaceflight itself. He stressed that the actual lunar missions would represent a small fraction of their overall experience, with most work dedicated to advancing the broader mission goals.
Future Artemis missions will involve practice docking procedures with lunar landers built by SpaceX and Blue Origin. The goal is to prepare for missions that will land astronauts near the lunar south pole and begin the construction of a moon base through the deployment of rovers, robots, structures, and power grids.