Nov. 10 — The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has initiated an active recruitment campaign for a new generation of astronauts tasked with constructing, operating, and living aboard a permanent base on the Moon, framing the cohort as foundational to the long-term future of human deep-space exploration.
Announcing the initiative on Saturday, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the historic scope of the mission: “Those we select will have the opportunity to walk on the lunar surface. Some will live and work aboard lunar outposts, while directly laying the operational groundwork for our eventual human missions to Mars.”
The recruitment drive forms a cornerstone of NASA’s flagship Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable, long-term human footprint on the Moon. Agency leadership, including Isaacman, reaffirmed intentions to return crews to the lunar surface by 2028, creating permanent surface installations rather than brief exploratory visits.
According to eligibility criteria released by NASA, applicants must:
Hold United States citizenship.
Possess a master’s degree in a STEM discipline (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) from an accredited institution.
Demonstrate professional operational flying experience as an aircraft commander or pilot, extensive specialized clinical qualifications in medicine, or documented professional leadership in high-stress operational environments.
Prospective candidates have until December 3 to submit formal applications through the official NASA portal. Following a rigorous vetting and screening cycle, the final astronaut candidate class will be designated toward the end of 2027, whereupon selected individuals will commence intensive multi-year operational training.
The current recruitment marks the agency’s first open astronaut solicitation since 2024, when a field of more than 8,000 qualified applicants was narrowed down to just 10 candidates selected for the astronaut corps.
Source: NASA Official Announcements & Aerospace Recruitment Dispatches, Washington, D.C.