NASA announced Saturday that it is accepting applications for a new astronaut class to support its Artemis program, which aims to establish a permanent lunar base. The space agency made the announcement during an air show at Kennedy Space Center focused on lunar exploration and aviation technology.
Aspiring astronauts have until December 3 to submit applications. NASA expects to make its final selection by late 2027, with new candidates beginning training by early 2028. The timing aligns with NASA's plan to return astronauts to the lunar surface in 2028 after more than fifty years.
The recruitment comes as NASA faces a personnel shortage relative to its expanding mission. The agency currently has only 32 active astronauts. Its last astronaut call two years ago drew more than 8,000 applicants, with 10 making the final cut in September 2025. Artemis III commander Randy Bresnik said the agency has far more work than available astronauts as it works to expand human presence beyond low-Earth orbit. The Artemis II crew completed a lunar flyaround in April, launching the lunar campaign.
Candidates must be U.S. citizens with college degrees and professional work experience. The mandatory two years of training can be grueling, and astronauts may wait several additional years before flying to space. Artemis III astronaut Frank Rubio, who holds the U.S. record for consecutive days in space at 371, cautioned that going to the moon represents about one percent of an astronaut's work, with most time spent contributing to mission support. This will be NASA's 25th astronaut class since the original Mercury Seven in 1959.