NASA Opens Astronaut Applications for Moon and Mars Missions, Deadline Dec. 3

NASA is accepting applications for a new class of astronauts to support the Artemis program and future missions to Mars. The agency announced the call during an air show at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, November 7.

The United States space agency currently has 32 active astronauts and says it needs more recruits to expand human presence beyond low-Earth orbit. Since 1959, NASA has recruited 370 people to fly in space.

“We have far more work than we have astronauts.”

Applications are open until December 3, and NASA plans to make final selections by late 2027. Selected candidates are expected to begin training by early 2028.

The last astronaut application cycle was two years ago, when more than 8,000 people applied and only 10 were selected. That group is currently in the middle of a two-year training program.

The new group will be the 25th astronaut class in NASA history. Artemis III commander Randy Bresnik said the agency has far more work than it has astronauts.

NASA chief Jared Isaacman described this as an extraordinary time to join the astronaut corps. He said selected individuals could walk on the moon, live and work at a moon base, and help pioneer systems for Mars missions.

Artemis III astronaut Nichole Stilwell said the agency does not have enough people for new vehicles, suits, and permanent lunar operations.