In brief

• NASA has opened applications for a new astronaut class that would help grow the Artemis program.
• The agency currently has 32 active astronauts and its last recruiting round, held two years ago, drew more than 8,000 applicants.
• Selected candidates would train for lunar surface work and long stays away from Earth.

Open call for lunar astronauts

NASA has opened applications for new astronauts who would help grow the Artemis program. Successful candidates would not only test spacecraft but also live and work on a future moon base, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement released on Saturday (NASA is looking for astronauts to live and work on the Moon – NPR). The announcement was made during a Kennedy Space Center air show that promoted lunar exploration alongside advances in aviation and technology (Want to fly to the moon? NASA is looking for new astronauts to help grow its Artemis program – Phys.org).

Eligibility and deadline

Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Applications are submitted through NASA's website, and the window closes in under a month (NASA Is Looking for Astronauts to Live and Work on the Moon – Gizmodo).

Why NASA needs more astronauts

NASA currently has 32 active astronauts. Its last recruiting round was two years ago, when more than 8,000 people applied and 10 made the final cut in September 2025. The agency says it has far more work than people to do it. The lunar campaign began in April, when the Artemis II crew flew around the Moon.

What comes next

The agency says those selected will prepare to work on the lunar surface and spend time living and working away from Earth, taking part in missions meant to take human exploration further than ever before. NASA's plans call for a return to the Moon, the construction of a Moon Base and preparation for the first crewed missions to Mars. Since the agency's missions began in the 1960s, it has selected 370 people as astronauts.