NASA Recruiting: Agency Seeks New Astronauts for Lunar Base Ambitions

NASA is accepting applications for a new class of astronauts to expand its lunar exploration program.

Agency officials announced the opening on Saturday at a Kennedy Space Center air show. The recruitment drive aims to build a permanent base on the Moon. NASA has 32 active astronauts currently. This number is insufficient for the agency's expanding goals beyond low-Earth orbit.

The last recruitment cycle ended in September 2025. More than 8,000 people applied for that class. Ten individuals were selected. Randy Bresnik, the commander for Artemis III, stated the agency has far more work than it has astronauts.

Prospective candidates must submit their applications by December 3. NASA plans to finalize the selection by the end of 2027. New hires would begin training in early 2028. This timing aligns with the agency's goal to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time in over 50 years.

Bresnik and his crew will launch next summer for a rehearsal mission. They will practice docking their capsule with landers built by SpaceX and Blue Origin. This mission will stay near Earth. It serves as a dress rehearsal for Artemis IV, which aims to land two astronauts near the lunar south pole.

Frank Rubio, a member of the Artemis III crew, noted the demands of the role. He holds the U.S. record for consecutive days in space with 371 days. Rubio advised applicants that most of their work will not involve traveling to the Moon. He described the actual travel as about 1% of their experience.

Requirements for the new class include U.S. citizenship, a college degree, and professional work experience. Candidates must complete two years of mandatory training. It may take several additional years before an astronaut flies to space. This will be the agency's 25th astronaut class since the Mercury Seven in 1959.