NASA Opens Astronaut Applications for Future Moon Base Missions
The space agency seeks 32 new candidates, with a deadline of Dec. 3, and now accepts master's-level nursing degrees.
By Eric Collins ·
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced on Saturday that the agency is accepting applications for a new class of astronauts. These selected candidates will test spacecraft and live and work at a future moon base.
The agency is looking for individuals who can demonstrate technical excellence, sound judgment, teamwork, and courage. Isaacman stated that the astronaut corps has always relied on Americans willing to take on extraordinary challenges in service to the nation.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and hold a master's degree in a STEM-related field such as engineering or math. In a recent policy change, NASA now includes master's-level nursing degrees in the STEM definition. Anna Schneider, a NASA spokesperson, confirmed to NPR on Sunday that nursing degrees were previously excluded from this requirement.
Candidates also need a minimum of three years of related professional experience after completing their degree. Those in a PhD program in a STEM field, doctors, or pilots with extensive flight experience may qualify in lieu of the master's degree and work experience combination. The application process is highly competitive; NASA's last class selected only 10 candidates from more than 8,000 applicants.
Successful applicants will undergo two years of training. They will prepare for difficult missions, including landing near the moon's South Pole. NASA aims to return humans to the moon by 2028, which will be the first time since 1972. The agency relies on private companies like Blue Origin and SpaceX to develop the necessary spacecraft systems.
Isaacman expressed confidence in the timeline during a Nov. 7 press conference about the Artemis III mission. He said he is very confident the mission will launch in 2027. There are currently 32 active astronauts in the corps, and the agency has selected 370 people to train as astronauts since missions began in the 1960s.
The starting salary for the new astronauts is $164,395. Applications are open to the public and will be received through Dec. 3.
