NASA opens applications for its next astronaut class
NASA has opened applications for its next class of astronauts, with a deadline of 11:59 p.m. EST on 3 Dec 2026. The agency says the recruits will train for work on the lunar surface and for future crewed Mars missions. NASA currently has 32 active astronauts. Its last class, selected in September 2025, came from more than 8,000 applicants, with 10 chosen. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency wants explorers who can walk on the Moon and help develop systems for Mars.
Key facts
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens with a master's degree in a STEM field and at least three years of experience.
- Master's-level nursing degrees now qualify under NASA's STEM definition, a NASA spokesperson said.
- The next class is expected to begin training in late 2027, followed by two years of preparation.
- NASA intends to return astronauts to the lunar surface in 2028, the agency said.
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Why it matters
Recruitment for the Artemis lunar program and a planned permanent Moon base.
What changed
First published from NASA, South China Morning Post, Phys.org, The Guardian and NPR