NASA Seeks Next Generation of Astronauts for Moon and Mars Missions

NASA has officially opened a callout for a new generation of explorers to join its astronaut corps as part of the expanding Artemis program. The announcement was made during an air show at the Kennedy Space Center promoting lunar exploration and technological advancements, giving aspiring candidates the chance to help shape humanity's future in space.

"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." Successful applicants will train out of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The space agency currently maintains 32 active astronauts, a number officials say is low given the heavy workload ahead. Artemis III commander Randy Bresnik told the Associated Press that the agency has far more work than available astronauts. With the Artemis II crew having completed a lunar flyaround, NASA is ramping up preparations for a return to the lunar surface.

Interested individuals must submit their completed application materials by 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, December 3. NASA anticipates announcing its final selection in late 2027, with the chosen candidates beginning their rigorous training regimen shortly thereafter.

The application process is notoriously competitive. During the previous recruitment cycle launched in 2024, NASA received more than 8,000 applications before ultimately accepting 10 new astronaut candidates in September 2025. Since the 1960s, the agency has selected 370 individuals to train as astronaut candidates for increasingly challenging missions.

To qualify, applicants must be United States citizens and hold a master’s degree in a STEM field, or meet equivalent requirements through doctoral work, medical degrees, or test pilot school programs. Candidates are also required to have at least three years of related professional experience after completing their qualifying degree and must pass NASA's long-duration astronaut physical examination.

As NASA pushes toward establishing a permanent human presence near the lunar South Pole, candidates are reminded that traveling into space represents only a small fraction of an astronaut's career. Artemis III crew member Frank Rubio, who holds the U.S. endurance record for spending 371 consecutive days in space, noted that the majority of the work involves contributing to the broader mission of discovery and technical development.