The NASA has officially launched the call for applications for its next astronaut class, set to write the next chapter in human space exploration. This new generation of astronauts will be trained to operate on the lunar surface, live and work beyond Earth, and participate in missions that will push the boundaries of human exploration, notably toward Mars.
Applications are open until Thursday, December 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST, exclusively to U.S. citizens, the space agency specified in a statement published on November 7, 2026. Selected candidates will join NASA’s astronaut corps and undergo intensive training covering diverse fields such as lunar geology, extravehicular activities, and piloting high-performance aircraft.
Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator, emphasized the significance of this exceptional period to join the astronaut corps. He reminded that future astronauts could walk on the Moon, live at the lunar base under construction, and contribute to preparing the first crewed missions to Mars. These missions require technical excellence, sound judgment, teamwork, and courage.
The final candidate selection is scheduled for late 2027, when their training will begin. The previous recruitment campaign, launched in 2024, attracted over 8,000 applications, from which ten astronauts were selected in 2025 and are currently in training.
Scott Tingle, Chief Astronaut and Chair of the Astronaut Selection Committee, noted that becoming a NASA astronaut is far more than a career opportunity: it is joining a legacy of explorers who have pushed the frontiers of discovery and playing a key role in missions that will shape humanity’s future in space.
Since the 1960s, NASA has selected 370 individuals to form its astronaut corps. Currently, 32 astronauts are active. The new candidates will join this group to continue meeting the challenges of crewed space missions, including those that promise to be more ambitious than ever.
