NASA astronaut applications are open until 3 December, for a class that could live at the Moon Base

Somewhere this week, an engineer, a doctor or a test pilot is reading a job advert that ends at the Moon. The NASA astronaut application 2026 window is now open, and the people chosen could be among the first to live and work at its planned Moon Base.

Applications close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, 3 December. NASA expects to choose the new class in late 2027. The call came on 7 November, the same day NASA named the companies that can bid to fly cargo to the Moon Base and the rover built from Mars parts. Machines go first; people follow.

Why NASA is hiring again after only two years

NASA last asked for applications in 2024. More than 8,000 people applied, and 10 were chosen in September 2025. That class is still finishing nearly two years of training.

So why a new call so soon? NASA’s release does not give a reason. In our reading, the numbers point to one: the agency has 32 active astronauts, and its plans now include repeated missions near the Moon’s South Pole, a long-term base and early work toward Mars. A small corps cannot staff all of that.

“The people we select could walk on the Moon, live and work at the Moon Base,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. Those chosen will study spacewalking, lunar geology and flying high-performance aircraft, among other skills.

NASA astronaut application 2026: who can apply, in plain words

Of all the NASA astronaut requirements, one matters most to readers around the world: you must be a US citizen. Then come three tests.

• A degree. A master’s degree in a STEM field, such as engineering, biology, physical science or computer science, from an accredited institution. NASA also accepts two years of work toward a related PhD, a medical degree (including physician assistant and nurse practitioner degrees), or a nationally recognised Test Pilot School finished by July 2027, plus a STEM bachelor’s degree.
• Experience. At least three years of related professional work after that degree. Pilots can count flying time instead, for example 750 hours as pilot in command of high-performance jets. Doctors can count residency, if it ends by July 2027.
• Health. A pass on NASA’s long-duration astronaut flight physical, plus strong leadership, teamwork and communication skills.

NASA’s own general recruiting video, from its “Become an Astronaut” page, is below. It is not a new announcement.

▶

What NASA has not said yet

Some useful details are missing. NASA has not said how many people it will pick this time. The pay grade sits in the official US government job posting, which we could not read, so we do not give a figure here. LiveNOW from FOX reports that training should begin in early 2028; NASA’s release says only that the final pick is expected in late 2027.

If you live outside the United States

For most of our readers, this door is closed, and that is worth saying kindly and clearly. People often search how to become a NASA astronaut from India, or from anywhere else. The honest answer is that NASA only takes US citizens. Other countries’ space agencies run their own astronaut selections, and those are the places to look.

The list is still useful. It shows what space agencies value: deep study in science or medicine, real working years, and a body and temperament fit for long missions. For a student anywhere, that is a fair map of the road.

A clear, open call, with the hardest part still ahead

On balance, this is a well-made call. The rules are public, the deadline is firm, and several routes count, from medicine to flying. That keeps the door open to people who did not follow one fixed path.

The caution is timing. Astronauts chosen in late 2027 need years of training, and the missions they train for depend on landers, budgets and dates that can move. In practice, crewed programmes often run later than first planned. NASA’s planned 2028 Moon landing will be the first big test of this schedule.

Still, hiring people is a sign of intent. Watch two things: how many applied when the window closes on 3 December, and how many names NASA reads out in late 2027.