# NASA Opens Astronaut Recruitment for Lunar Base Missions Under Artemis Program

- Published: 2026-11-10 09:12 UTC
- Section: Sky & Space › Space
- Tags: NASA astronaut applications, lunar base mission, astronaut recruitment STEM requirements, Artemis program, lunar South Pole landing
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-4291c644960b7710d074494e_nasa_opens_astronaut/

**The agency began accepting astronaut candidate applications with updated eligibility criteria, planning lunar surface missions starting in 2028.**

![NASA Opens Astronaut Recruitment for Lunar Base Missions Under Artemis Program](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/352b020a953f6e48.jpg)
*PolarExpress, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0*

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 [1]. The application window remains open through Dec. 3 with an announced starting salary of $164,395 [1].

## 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 [1]. 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 [1]. 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 [1].

## Training timeline and lunar objectives

The astronaut corps currently maintains 32 active members, having selected 370 trainees across all programs since the 1960s [1]. 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 [1]. Those selected will enter a mandatory two-year training program designed to prepare crews for deep-space flight profiles [1].

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 [1]. 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 [1].

## Sources

1. [npr.org](https://www.npr.org/2026/11/08/nx-s1-6034002/nasa-astronaut-class-applications-2026)
2. [ithome.com](https://www.ithome.com/1/024/143.htm)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-4291c644960b7710d074494e_nasa_opens_astronaut/