NASA is hiring new astronauts for future Artemis missions

NASA is on the lookout for new astronauts to bolster its Artemis program, which aims to establish a permanent base on the Moon. The space agency announced this opportunity during an air show at Kennedy Space Center. This is NASA's first recruitment drive in two years. The last call for new astronauts was in 2024, resulting in 10 candidates being selected from more than 8,000 applicants in September 2025.

With only 32 active astronauts, NASA is looking to expand its team as it plans to extend human presence beyond low-Earth orbit.

The call for new recruits comes after April's lunar flyaround by the Artemis II crew.

We have far more work than we have astronauts, said Artemis III commander Randy Bresnik, highlighting the need for more personnel for upcoming missions.

Aspiring astronauts can apply until December 3.

NASA plans to finalize its selection by late 2027, with the chosen candidates starting their training by early 2028.

This timeline coincides with NASA's plan to land astronauts on the Moon after more than half a century.

By then, we're going to have people on the moon, so don't delay, Bresnik urged potential candidates.

Bresnik and his three crewmates will launch into orbit next summer to practice docking their capsule with SpaceX and Blue Origin lunar landers.

This mission will serve as a rehearsal for the Artemis IV mission, which aims to land two astronauts near the Moon's south pole.

Candidates hoping to join this ambitious project must be US citizens with college degrees and professional work experience.

The two years of mandatory training for selected candidates can be tough, and it may take several more years before they finally get to space.

It's important for them to realize most of that work is not going to the moon, right? Artemis III's Frank Rubio told the AP. That will be about 1% of your experience. What you're doing is contributing to the mission of going to the moon.