NASA Opens Applications for New Astronaut Class to Support Artemis Programme

NASA has begun accepting applications for a new astronaut class to support its ongoing Artemis programme. The agency currently has 32 active astronauts and is seeking new recruits as it works toward establishing a permanent lunar presence.

The United States space agency, NASA, has announced a new call for astronaut applications to support the expansion of the Artemis programme. The announcement was made during an air show at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

NASA currently maintains a roster of 32 active astronauts. Agency officials noted that additional personnel are required to support upcoming missions and expand human presence beyond low-Earth orbit. Artemis III commander Randy Bresnik stated that the agency currently has significantly more operational work than available personnel.

Applications for the new astronaut class are open until December 3. NASA expects to finalize selections by late 2027, with training for the selected candidates scheduled to begin by early 2028. This timeline coincides with the year NASA intends to return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time in over fifty years.

The upcoming mission schedule includes a flight planned for next summer by Artemis II crew members, who will practice docking their capsule with lunar landers developed by private aerospace companies SpaceX and Blue Origin. This mission will serve as a rehearsal for the Artemis IV mission, which aims to land two astronauts near the lunar south pole.

To be eligible, applicants must be United States citizens holding college degrees and professional work experience. Astronaut Frank Rubio, who holds the US endurance record of 371 consecutive days in space, emphasized that candidates must exercise patience. He noted that mandatory training typically lasts two years, followed by years of preparation, and that actual spaceflight accounts for a small fraction of an astronaut's overall experience.

This recruitment drive represents NASA's 25th astronaut class, following the selection of the original Mercury Seven in 1959. Previous recruitment cycles, such as the call held two years ago, drew over 8,000 applicants resulting in 10 finalists selected in September 2025.

"NASA's ongoing recruitment for the Artemis programme highlights a critical business and operational principle: scaling complex projects requires proactive workforce planning. As space exploration increasingly relies on private-sector partnerships with companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, talent pipeline development remains foundational to meeting long-term strategic objectives and maintaining execution timelines in capital-intensive industries." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes