NASA opens applications for 25th astronaut class

NASA has opened applications for its 25th astronaut class, the first such call in two years.

The announcement was made at a Max Power event hosted by Kennedy Space Center.

The recruitment is for the 25th astronaut class, and applications close on December 3, 2026.

Candidates will train for low Earth orbit, lunar surface operations and future Artemis missions.

NASA calls the coming group one of its most important classes so far, and says 370 people have been selected since Mercury 7 in 1959.

Applicants must be US citizens, satisfy the STEM master's education requirement, have at least three years of related professional experience and pass a long-duration spaceflight physical.

The 2025 class had 10 members and was the first NASA astronaut class in which women outnumbered men.

The current astronaut corps has 32 members.

This call ties astronaut training to low Earth orbit, lunar surface operations and future Artemis missions.

NASA also plans to keep sending astronauts to the ISS and future commercial stations while planning a base on the lunar surface.

In October, this site reported that NASA had scheduled an Artemis III update at Kennedy Space Center.

The application call announced at the same center extends that Artemis coverage from mission updates to crew recruitment.

Applications remain open until December 3, 2026.