Do you want to be an Astronaut? NASA is looking for another batch of candidates with ‘The Right Stuff” to train for missions to the lunar south pole region.NASA announced today that applications are now being accepted for the “Artemis Generation” class starting in 2025.
According to NASA, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Have a master’s degree* in a STEM field, including engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science or mathematics, from an accredited institution.
- Have a minimum of three years of related professional experience obtained after degree completion (or 1,000 Pilot-in-Command hours with at least 850 of those hours in high performance jet aircraft for pilots) For medical doctors, time in residency can count towards experience and must be completed by June 2025.
- Be able to successfully complete the NASA long-duration flight astronaut physical.
*The master’s degree requirement can also be met by:
- Two years of work towards a doctoral program in a related science, technology, engineering, or math field.
- Completed Doctor of Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, or related medical degree
- Completion (or current enrollment that will result in completion by June 2025) of a nationally recognized test pilot school program.
You’ll also need to be able to demonstrate your skills in leadership, teamwork, and communications. NASA will review the applications and the most highly qualified will be invited to Texas for interviews at the Johnson Space Center. NASA says they will then call back about half of that group for a second interview, and then select candidates from whomever is left.
Don’t go out and buy that space suit just yet. NASA said they received over 12,000 applications for the last class in 2020. When the smoke cleared, just 10 made the cut. NASA currently lists 48 active astronauts.
But if you ARE selected, you’ll probably have the most exciting job on earth. You’ll train for two years in skills like basic spacewalking, operating the ISS, flying a T-38 jet trainer, and controlling a robotic arm.
According to NASA, some of these candidates will be the first to fly on extended lunar missions, and maybe even among the first to fly to Mars.
Here’s the timeline for applicants:
- March 5, 2024 – Vacancy Announcement opens
- April 2, 2024 – Vacancy Announcement closes
- April–May 2024 – Qualifications Review
- June–July 2024 – Qualified Applications reviewed to determine Highly Qualified applicants
- August–September 2024 – Highly Qualified applications reviewed to determine Interviewees
- October–December 2024 – Initial Interviewees brought to Johnson Space Center for initial interview and activities. Interviewees will be selected from the Highly Qualified group
- January 2025 – Finalists determined
- January–April 2025 – Final Interviewees brought to Johnson Space Center for additional interview and final activities
- June 2025 – Astronaut Candidate Class of 2025 announced
- August 2025 – Astronaut Candidate Class of 2025 reports to the Johnson Space Center
Applications are open from March 5 – April 2, 2024. If you’re ready, you can apply online at USAJOBS.gov
