NASA Opens Astronaut Recruitment for Lunar Base Missions Under Artemis Program
The agency began accepting astronaut candidate applications with updated eligibility criteria, planning lunar surface missions starting in 2028.
NASA has opened a new recruitment drive for astronaut candidates who will train for operations on the lunar surface and a future moon base, according to npr.org. Selected personnel will be assigned to test upcoming spacecraft and prepare for complex operational tasks, including landings near the lunar South Pole npr.org
npr.orgnpr.orgOpen source ↗. The application window remains open through Dec. 3 with an announced starting salary of $164,395.
Qualification criteria and nursing addition
To be considered, candidates must be U.S. citizens holding a master's degree in a STEM field, such as engineering, mathematics, or science, followed by at least three years of related professional experience. In a policy revision confirmed by NASA spokesperson Anna Schneider, master's-level nursing degrees are now officially classified under the STEM definition and fulfill the basic educational prerequisite. Alternatively, the agency accepts medical doctors, active PhD candidates in STEM fields, or pilots with extensive flight backgrounds instead of standard master's coursework and civilian job tenure.
Training timeline and lunar objectives
The astronaut corps currently maintains 32 active members, having selected 370 trainees across all programs since the 1960s. The selection process remains highly competitive: during the previous recruitment round, only 10 candidates were selected from a pool of more than 8,000 applicants. Those selected will enter a mandatory two-year training program designed to prepare crews for deep-space flight profiles.
According to agency statements, these crews will support the return of humans to the moon targeted for 2028, relying on private hardware developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin npr.org
npr.orgnpr.orgOpen source ↗. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman noted ongoing work on the Artemis III mission, stating during a Nov. 7 press conference that he is confident in a 2027 launch timeline.
