NASA Opens Applications for Its Next Astronaut Class

NASA has opened applications for its next astronaut class, with a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, December 3. The agency expects to make its final selections in late 2027.

The search is open to U.S. citizens who meet NASA's education, experience and medical requirements. Applicants generally need a master's degree in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics field, or one of the agency's listed equivalent qualifications, along with at least three years of related professional experience after their qualifying degree.

NASA also lists alternative experience requirements for pilots. Those include 750 hours as pilot in command of high-performance jets, or specified combinations of total flight time and pilot-in-command time in other fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft. Medical residency may count toward the professional experience requirement, subject to NASA's completion deadline.

Candidates must pass NASA's long-duration astronaut flight physical and show strong leadership, teamwork and communication skills. The requirements page and the application announcement set out the full qualifications and exceptions.

NASA says the new recruits will prepare for future human-spaceflight missions, including lunar exploration. Selection as an astronaut candidate does not guarantee an assignment to a Moon or Mars mission.

The agency last accepted applications in 2024, when more than 8,000 people applied. Ten candidates were selected in 2025 and are completing nearly two years of training.

Applications and full requirements are available through NASA's astronaut recruitment page.