NASA Opens Astronaut Applications for Moon Base Era, With a Dec. 3 Deadline

HOUSTON, Nov. 10 (TodayViralUSA) — NASA is recruiting its next class of astronauts, opening applications for the first time in two years as the agency prepares crews to live and work on the Moon and lay the groundwork for the first human missions to Mars.

U.S. citizens have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, Dec. 3, to apply through the federal jobs portal USAJOBS, the agency said in an announcement over the weekend. NASA expects to make its final selections in late 2027.

Training for the Moon Base

The new astronauts will train to operate on the lunar surface and to live and work beyond Earth as NASA moves to return Americans to the Moon and build a Moon Base, the agency said.

“The window is open. The mission is waiting,” NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson said in the announcement.

Those chosen will spend about two years in training, from spacewalking and robotics to leadership and teamwork, before joining the active astronaut corps and becoming eligible for flight assignments. The posting lists the job at Johnson Space Center in Houston with a salary of $164,395 a year.

Who can apply

Basic requirements include U.S. citizenship, a master’s degree in a STEM field such as engineering, biological or physical science, computer science or mathematics, and at least three years of related professional experience after completing that degree. Applicants must also meet NASA’s physical requirements.

NASA said the degree requirement can also be met with at least two years of doctoral work in a relevant field, a completed medical degree, or completion of a nationally recognized test pilot school program.

Fierce competition

The odds are long. When NASA last opened applications in 2024, it received more than 8,000 and selected 10 candidates in 2025, who are now finishing their training.