WANT TO BE AN ASTRONAUT? NASA IS TAKING APPLICATIONS!
Have you ever dreamed of going into space? Well, NASA is officially looking for a new generation of astronauts, and they’re accepting applications right now. The space agency announced on November 7 that it is recruiting candidates who could eventually walk on the Moon, live and work at a planned lunar base, and help prepare humanity for its first crewed missions to Mars. It’s a pretty extraordinary opportunity, especially considering that NASA currently has only 32 active astronauts.
Applications are being accepted until December 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with the next class expected to be selected in late 2027.
But before you start packing your bags for outer space, there are some pretty significant qualifications. Applicants must be United States citizens and generally have a master’s degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field. NASA will also accept certain medical degrees, two years of qualifying doctoral studies, or recognized test pilot school training under specific conditions. Candidates must have at least three years of related professional experience, although qualified pilots can meet that requirement through flight experience, including 750 hours as pilot in command of high-performance jets or other specified flight-hour combinations. Applicants must also pass NASA’s long-duration astronaut physical examination and demonstrate strong leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.
And don’t expect the competition to be easy. When NASA last accepted applications in 2024, more than 8,000 people applied, and only 10 were selected for the astronaut class announced in 2025. Those fortunate enough to make the cut undergo approximately two years of intensive training, learning everything from spacewalking and operating spacecraft systems to flying high-performance aircraft. NASA has selected just 370 astronaut candidates since the beginning of its astronaut program, making this one of the most exclusive careers imaginable. But if you’ve ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what it would be like to actually go there, perhaps this is your opportunity. After all, somebody has to be among the next generation of explorers heading to the Moon and, eventually, Mars.
Interested? You can find the official requirements and application information directly through NASA’s astronaut recruitment page.