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NASA Opens Recruitment for 2025 Astronaut Candidate Class

Updated 9:14 PM ET · 12:30 AM ETConfirmedShare via:          

Science Desk

In Short: The last astronaut recruitment drive in 2023 saw over 8,000 applications, and NASA is now looking to expand its current corps of 32 active astronauts.

NASA astronaut candidate Lauren Edgar, NASA.

Apply to Become A NASA Astronaut. NASA

NASA is recruiting new astronauts to join the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually Mars.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said, "The people we select could walk on the Moon, live and work at the Moon Base, and help pioneer the systems and operations that will ultimately carry crews to Mars."

NASA plans to select the recruits by late next year, with training set to begin in early 2028.

The last astronaut recruitment drive in 2023 saw over 8,000 applications, and NASA is now looking to expand its current corps of 32 active astronauts.

NASA also announced the development of a nuclear-powered, six-wheeled rover to survey the Moon's surface, identify potential landing sites, and support future infrastructure.

The Artemis III mission, set to launch in 2027, will send astronauts Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, Andre Douglas, and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano aboard the Orion spacecraft into low Earth orbit.

NASA's Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover will no longer serve as active astronauts but will continue to support the moon exploration program as emeritus astronauts.

NASA's Artemis program aims to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon, with missions planned to begin in 2028.

NASA's activities supporting the International Space Station enable the science, engineering, and risk-reduction needed for future missions across the solar system.

NASA's Artemis II crew spent 237 days in orbit, traveling more than 100 million miles while carrying out scientific experiments.

NASA's Artemis III mission will involve a series of maneuvers to transition to a circular orbit before setting up its rendezvous with the waiting Blue Moon lander test article.

NASA's Artemis program aims to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon, with missions planned to begin in 2028.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• NASA is recruiting new astronauts to join the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually Mars.
• NASA plans to select the recruits by late next year, with training set to begin in early 2028.
• The last astronaut recruitment drive in 2023 saw over 8,000 applications, and NASA is now looking to expand its current corps of 32 active astronauts.
• NASA also announced the development of a nuclear-powered, six-wheeled rover to survey the Moon's surface, identify potential landing sites, and support future infrastructure.
• The Artemis III mission, set to launch in 2027, will send astronauts Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, Andre Douglas, and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano aboard the Orion spacecraft into low Earth orbit.
• NASA's Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover will no longer serve as active astronauts but will continue to support the moon exploration program as emeritus astronauts.
• NASA's Artemis program aims to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon, with missions planned to begin in 2028.
• NASA's activities supporting the International Space Station enable the science, engineering, and risk-reduction needed for future missions across the solar system.
• NASA's Artemis II crew spent 237 days in orbit, traveling more than 100 million miles while carrying out scientific experiments.
• NASA's Artemis III mission will involve a series of maneuvers to transition to a circular orbit before setting up its rendezvous with the waiting Blue Moon lander test article.
• NASA's Artemis program aims to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon, with missions planned to begin in 2028.

What's still developing

• "Those missions will demand technical excellence, sound judgment, teamwork, and courage." Anyone looking to become an astronaut has until Dec.
• And barring any last-minute hiccups, four astronauts on Wednesday will begin a journey that sends them farther from Earth than any human has gone before.
• “Today we take another bold step in humanity's return to the Moon, building on the extraordinary foundation laid by the Artemis II astronauts," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a press release.
• "Our last astronaut candidate class was greater than 50% female. We'll assemble the best astronauts to undertake and complete the objectives set up for the following mission."
• NASA has awarded six new launch and in-space transportation task orders to American companies, advancing the capabilities for future missions supporting Moon Base such as CAPSTONE 02, LCRNS, and MoonFall.
• "We're grateful for the dedication across the human spaceflight team that makes this possible, and we're thrilled to welcome Jessica, Jack, Sophie, and Andrey home." Over the course of their 237-day stay, the astronauts circled Earth more than 3,792 times, accumulating over 100 million miles of travel.
• Its announcement explained that the basic requirements include being a U.S.

Sources

• LiveNOW from FOXlink
• Teslaratilink
• NASAlink
• Newsukrainelink
• Houstonpublicmedialink
• The Indian Expresslink
• NASAlink
• Discovermagazinelink
• K24link
• Kyivindependentlink
• Bdnews24link
• Newslink
• Los Angeles Timeslink
• WarpBeat — background on NASA Seeks New Astronauts for Artemis Moon Program link
• WarpBeat — background on NASA Is Selecting Future Astronauts. Here’s How to Apply. link
• NASA — video link