NASA opens applications for new astronaut class
Candidates have until December 3 to apply for the 25th group of NASA astronauts, a move intended to support the agency's lunar expansion plans.
By Anthony Foster ·
NASA is accepting applications from individuals who wish to join the next cohort of astronauts. The space agency announced the opening of the selection process on Saturday at an air show at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The event focused on lunar exploration and advances in aviation technology. The deadline for applicants is December 3.
This is the first recruitment drive in two years. The previous class was selected in September 2025 after more than 8,000 people applied. Ten candidates were chosen from that pool. NASA currently has 32 active astronauts. Officials stated that the agency needs more personnel to expand human presence beyond low Earth orbit.
Randy Bresnik, the commander for the Artemis III mission, spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday. He said, “We have far more work than we have astronauts.” Bresnik urged potential candidates to submit their applications quickly. He noted that the agency intends to return astronauts to the lunar surface in 2028, ending an absence of more than half a century.
The new group will begin training by early 2028. NASA expects to make the final selection by late 2027. The current astronaut corps is preparing for upcoming missions. Bresnik and his three crewmates are scheduled to launch next summer. Their mission will involve practicing docking procedures with lunar landers built by SpaceX and Blue Origin. That mission will serve as a rehearsal for the Artemis IV mission, which aims to land two astronauts near the lunar south pole the following year.
Frank Rubio, a member of the Artemis III crew, emphasized the patience required for the job. He holds the U.S. endurance record with 371 consecutive days in space. Rubio told The Associated Press that most of the work involved in the program does not take place on the moon. He said, “It's important for them to realize most of that work is not going to the moon, right? That will be about 1% of your experience. What you're doing is contributing to the mission of going to the moon.”
Candidates must be U.S. citizens with college degrees and professional work experience. The mandatory training lasts two years and is described as grueling. It can take several additional years before a new astronaut flies a mission. This upcoming class will be the 25th astronaut group selected by NASA since the original Mercury Seven in 1959.
