NASA Astronaut Applications Open for Moon and Mars Missions
NASA has opened applications for its next astronaut class, whose members could train for missions to the Moon and help prepare for crewed flights to Mars. U.S. citizens must apply by 11:59 p.m. EST on December 3, and the agency expects to make its final selections in late 2027.
NASA opened applications for its next astronaut class on November 8, 2026, as the agency prepares for missions to the Moon and lays groundwork for crewed flights to Mars. NASA is selecting future astronauts who could train to operate on the lunar surface and live and work beyond Earth.
U.S. citizens have until 11:59 p.m. EST on December 3 to submit a completed application. NASA expects to make its final selections in late 2027, with those chosen beginning training as astronaut candidates.
“This is an extraordinary time to join NASA’s astronaut corps,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said. He said candidates could walk on the Moon, work at the Moon Base and help develop systems and operations for missions to Mars.
Applicants generally need U.S. citizenship, a master’s degree in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics field from an accredited institution, and at least three years of related professional experience after completing their qualifying degree.
NASA also accepts several alternatives to a master’s degree: at least two years of work toward a doctoral program in an appropriate technical field; qualifying medical or nursing degrees; or completion of, or current enrollment in, a nationally recognized Test Pilot School program, provided it is completed by July 2027. Applicants whose only advanced technical qualification is Test Pilot School must have a bachelor’s degree in a qualifying STEM field.
Pilot applicants can meet the experience requirement through specified flight hours. The listed thresholds include 750 hours as pilot in command in high-performance jet aircraft, or 1,500 total hours in other fixed-wing aircraft, including 750 hours as pilot in command.
NASA last opened astronaut applications in 2024. More than 8,000 people applied, and the agency selected 10 astronaut candidates in 2025; they are now completing nearly two years of training.
“For those who apply, becoming a NASA astronaut is more than a career opportunity,” said Scott Tingle, NASA’s chief astronaut and chair of the Astronaut Selection Board at Johnson Space Center in Houston. He described the role as a chance to join a legacy of exploration and contribute to missions shaping humanity’s future in space.
NASA said the new class will study spacewalking, lunar geology and operations of high-performance aircraft, among other areas. The agency has selected 370 people to train as astronaut candidates since the 1960s and currently has 32 active astronauts.
NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson urged eligible applicants to act: “The window is open. The mission is waiting.”
