In the autumn of a century still learning to leave its cradle, NASA has opened the door to a new generation of astronauts, asking for people who will help return human footprints to the moon and begin building something that might last there. The call comes from a small corps of only thirty-two active flyers, a number that makes the scale of the ambition feel almost startling. Its quiet lesson is that the work of reaching the moon is mostly patient labor done far from the moment of launch. Applications remain open until early December, and the candidates chosen will arrive in training just as
NASA Opens Applications for New Astronaut Class to Grow Artemis Lunar Program
"We have far more work than we have astronauts."
Mark
Why is NASA recruiting now, only two years after the last class?
Mimi
Because of the workload. Only 32 astronauts are active, and Randy Bresnik says there's far more work than astronauts. The Artemis campaign is ramping up after April's Artemis II flyaround.
Luke
Worth noting that's Bresnik's characterization. The reporting gives us the 32 figure, but not a breakdown of how many are available for flight assignments.
Mark
What's the timeline for the people who apply?
Mimi
Applications close Dec. 3. Selection is expected by late 2027, training starts by early 2028, and that's the year NASA intends to land astronauts on the moon again.
Luke
Intends is the key word. Those are NASA's goals, and the article doesn't say anything about how firm they are.
Mark
So will this class fly to the moon?
Mimi
Not necessarily. Rubio says two years of training come first, then possibly several more years before a first flight. He said going to the moon is about 1% of the experience.
Luke
Right, and the source doesn't say any member of this class is slated for a lunar mission. That's open.
Mark
And the next missions?
Mimi
Artemis III goes up next summer to practice docking with SpaceX and Blue Origin landers, staying near Earth. Artemis IV the year after attempts a south pole landing with two astronauts.
The Pulse
- Only 32 active astronauts stand against a lunar campaign that has more work than hands to do it.
- Applications close December 3, and the agency is pressing qualified people not to hesitate.
- Artemis III crews will rehearse docking with SpaceX and Blue Origin landers before the next landing attempt.
- Selection lands in late 2027 and training begins early 2028, the year astronauts are meant to walk the surface again.
- Veterans warn that the job is mostly preparation and support work, with only about one percent spent actually on the moon.
In the autumn of a century still learning to leave its cradle, NASA has opened the door to a new generation of astronauts, asking for people who will help return human footprints to the moon and begin building something that might last there. The call comes from a small corps of only thirty-two active flyers, a number that makes the scale of the ambition feel almost startling. Its quiet lesson is that the work of reaching the moon is mostly patient labor done far from the moment of launch. Applications remain open until early December, and the candidates chosen will arrive in training just as the agency hopes to bring astronauts to the lunar surface again.
On Saturday, at an air show at Kennedy Space Center that celebrated lunar exploration alongside aviation and technology, NASA announced it is accepting applications for a new astronaut class. The message was plain: the agency needs people who can help fly to the moon and build a permanent base there.
The urgency is rooted in arithmetic. NASA has only 32 active astronauts, and it wants to extend human presence beyond low-Earth orbit as quickly as possible. The Artemis II crew's lunar flyaround in April launched this campaign, and Artemis III commander Randy Bresnik told the Associated Press there is far more work than there are astronauts to do it.
The last call drew more than 8,000 applicants two years ago, and 10 were chosen in September 2025. This time the window closes December 3. Final selection is expected by late 2027, with training beginning in early 2028, the year NASA hopes to land astronauts on the surface after more than fifty years away. Bresnik urged candidates not to wait, promising that people will be on the moon by then.
Next summer, Bresnik and three crewmates will fly a mission that stays near Earth, practicing docking with two lunar landers built by SpaceX and Blue Origin. It rehearses Artemis IV, which will attempt a landing near the lunar south pole. The base itself will grow slowly, one rover, structure, and power grid at a time.
Frank Rubio, another Artemis III crew member holding the U.S. endurance record of 371 consecutive days in space, offered a sober note for applicants. Candidates need U.S. citizenship, college degrees, and professional experience, and then face two years of demanding training before any flight. Most of the work, he said, is not going to the moon. That part is about one percent of the job; the rest is contributing to the mission that gets there.
This will be NASA's 25th astronaut class, counting back to the Mercury Seven in 1959. The people selected will begin training just as the first Artemis landing is meant to happen.
On Saturday, at an air show at Kennedy Space Center meant to promote lunar exploration along with advances in aviation and technology, NASA announced it is taking applications for a new astronaut class. The agency's pitch was direct: it wants people who can help fly to the moon and build a permanent base there.
The numbers explain the urgency. NASA has only 32 active astronauts, and it wants to push human presence beyond low-Earth orbit as fast as it can. The Artemis II crew's lunar flyaround in April kicked off that campaign. Randy Bresnik, commander of Artemis III, told The Associated Press on Saturday that there is far more work than there are astronauts to do it.
The last call for applicants came two years ago. More than 8,000 people applied, and 10 were chosen in September 2025. This time, aspiring astronauts have until Dec. 3 to submit applications. NASA expects to make its final selection by late 2027, with the new candidates starting training by early 2028. That is the same year the agency intends to put astronauts back on the lunar surface, after an absence of more than half a century. By then, Bresnik said, there will be people on the moon, so candidates should not delay.
Bresnik and his three crewmates launch next summer on a mission that stays near Earth, with no lunar flyby. They will practice docking their capsule with two lunar landers, one built by Elon Musk's SpaceX and the other by Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. The flight serves as a dress rehearsal for Artemis IV the following year, which will attempt to land two astronauts near the lunar south pole. The moon base itself is expected to take shape gradually, as more rovers, robots, structures and power grids are launched.
The job demands patience, said Frank Rubio, another Artemis III crew member, whose 371 consecutive days in space are a U.S. endurance record. Applicants must be U.S. citizens with college degrees and professional work experience. Selected candidates face two years of mandatory training that can be grueling, and it may take several more years after that before they actually ride a rocket into space.
Rubio cautioned applicants about what the career looks like. Most of the work, he told the AP, is not going to the moon. He put that part at about 1 percent of an astronaut's experience, with the rest spent contributing to the mission of getting there.
This will be NASA's 25th astronaut class, counting from the original Mercury Seven in 1959. With applications closing Dec. 3 and selection due late next year, the class that emerges will begin training just as the first Artemis landing is meant to happen.
Notable Quotes
We have far more work than we have astronauts.— Randy Bresnik, Artemis III commander, to The Associated Press
Going to the moon will be about 1% of your experience; the rest is contributing to the mission.— Frank Rubio, Artemis III astronaut (paraphrased)
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