NASA Recruits Astronauts for Planned Moon Missions
NASA has opened applications for its 25th astronaut class. The final composition will be approved at the end of 2027.
This is NASA's first astronaut recruitment in two years. Since the formation of the first "Mercury 7" team in 1959, 370 individuals have joined the program.
The new astronauts will train for operations in low Earth orbit, lunar missions, and future expeditions under the Artemis program. NASA acknowledges that the class may be needed to support crews on the International Space Station if its operational lifespan is extended to 2030 due to delays in launching commercial orbital platforms.
Simultaneously, the agency plans to establish a base on the lunar surface. This will require more specialists with experience in extravehicular activity.
Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens with a master's degree in natural sciences, technology, engineering, or mathematics and at least three years of professional experience in their field. Alternatively, candidates may hold a medical degree, have graduated from an accredited test pilot school, or have completed two years of work toward a doctoral dissertation in a technical discipline.
All applicants must also pass a medical examination to assess their suitability for long-duration spaceflight.
The 24th class, consisting of 10 individuals, was formed in 2025. For the first time in NASA's history, it included more women than men. One of its members, Dr. Anna Menon, has already traveled to space as part of the commercial Polaris Dawn mission. She became the first candidate to complete a spaceflight before being officially admitted to the astronaut corps.
The current recruitment is aimed at preparing for the transition to regular lunar expeditions and integrating crewed spacecraft with new orbital stations. NASA also links it to training specialists for deep-space operations and autonomous orbital hubs.
