NASA Opens Applications for Astronauts to Live and Work on the Moon
The agency is seeking candidates with STEM master's degrees, including nursing, for future lunar base missions starting at $164,395.
At a glance
- NASA is accepting applications for astronauts who will live and work on a future moon base.
- Applicants need a STEM master's degree, which now includes nursing, and three years of professional experience.
- Selected candidates will earn a starting salary of $164,395 and train for two years.
NASA is accepting applications for its next class of astronauts, with selected candidates tasked with living and working on the lunar surface in a future moon base. The application window is open to U.S. citizens with relevant advanced degrees and professional experience, with a deadline of December 3.
NASA currently has 32 active astronauts, though it has selected 370 people to train since the 1960s. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that the chosen candidates will test spacecraft and support the agency's ambitious goal to return humans to the moon. "Those missions will demand technical excellence, sound judgment, teamwork, and courage," Isaacman said. "NASA's astronaut corps has always called on remarkable Americans willing to take on extraordinary challenges in service to the nation."
Competitive Selection and Updated Requirements The selection process is highly competitive; in the previous cycle, only 10 candidates were chosen out of more than 8,000 applicants. While there is no official age limit, applicants must hold a master's degree in a STEM field and have at least three years of related professional experience.
In a notable policy shift, NASA now counts master's-level nursing degrees as meeting the STEM requirement, according to agency spokesperson Anna Schneider. Alternatively, candidates in PhD STEM programs, medical doctors, or pilots with extensive flight experience may apply.
Lunar Timeline and Compensation Selected astronauts will undergo approximately two years of training to prepare for complex missions, such as landing near the moon's South Pole. To support the planned 2028 lunar return—the first since 1972—NASA is partnering with private firms like Blue Origin and SpaceX.
During a November 7 press conference on the Artemis III mission, Isaacman expressed confidence in a 2027 launch target. The position offers a starting salary of $164,395.
Source: NPR News.
Questions and answers
- What are the educational requirements for NASA's new astronaut class?
- Candidates must hold a master's degree in a STEM field, which now includes nursing, or equivalent advanced degrees, plus three years of professional experience.
- What is the starting salary and application deadline for the NASA astronaut program?
- The starting salary is $164,395, and applications will be accepted through December 3.
- Where will the newly selected astronauts train and work?
- They will undergo two years of training to prepare for missions landing near the moon's South Pole and to work in a future lunar base.
