NASA is expanding its astronaut corps for the first time in two years. As the US space agency grows its Artemis programme, recruitment is in progress for a brand-new class of space explorers who will train to "live and work beyond Earth".
Want to fly to the moon and help build a permanent lunar base? NASA is accepting applications for a new astronaut class that will help grow the Artemis programme.
Officials announced the news Saturday during a Kennedy Space Center air show promoting lunar exploration as well as advances in aviation and technology.
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NASA’s last call for new astronauts was two years ago. More than 8,000 applied, with just 10 making the final cut in September 2025.
With only 32 active astronauts, the space agency needs more recruits as it looks to expand humanity’s presence beyond low-Earth orbit as quickly as possible. April's lunar flyby by the Artemis II crew kicked off the lunar campaign.
“We have far more work than we have astronauts,” Artemis III commander Randy Bresnik told The Associated Press on Saturday.
This new generation of astronauts will "train to operate on the lunar surface, live and work beyond Earth, and take on missions that will push the boundaries of human exploration…
