NASA opened applications for its next astronaut candidate class on November 7, 2026. U.S. citizens have until 11:59 p.m. EST on December 3 to apply. The agency expects to make final selections in late 2027.
Candidates will train for missions to the Moon and Mars. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated, "The people we select could walk on the Moon, live and work at the Moon Base, and help pioneer the systems and operations that will ultimately carry crews to Mars."
The basic requirements include U.S. citizenship and a master's degree in a STEM field from an accredited institution. Applicants must also have at least three years of related professional experience after completing their qualifying degree. For pilots, requirements include 750 hours of pilot-in-command time in high-performance jet aircraft, among other options. Astronaut candidates must pass NASA's long-duration astronaut flight physical and demonstrate strong leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.
NASA has selected 370 people to train as astronaut candidates since the 1960s. The agency currently has 32 active astronauts. In 2025, NASA selected 10 astronaut candidates from over 8,000 applications. Those candidates are currently completing nearly two years of training. The next class will join them to study spacewalking, lunar geology, and operations of high-performance aircraft.