NASA opens astronaut applications for first time since 2024: Check eligibility, $164,395 salary and deadline

NASA has officially welcomed applications for astronaut positions for the first time since 2024. The recruitment drive, announced on November 7, invites eligible American citizens to apply. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, joining the astronaut team opens up opportunities to walk on the Moon, live and work at a planned Moon Base, and contribute to technology development for Mars missions.

The deadline for submitting applications is December 3, 2026. Interested candidates must apply through the US government's official job portal. Applicants must be US citizens and meet NASA's education requirements, including having a bachelor's degree in a STEM field or an equivalent combination of education and experience. They must also have at least one of the following: a master's degree or higher in a STEM field, or a doctorate degree in any field.

Applicants must also have professional work experience, with pilots needing at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. NASA lists a total of 1,500 flight hours for certain pilot applicants. A medical examination is required, and candidates must pass NASA's long-duration spaceflight astronaut physical. NASA does not impose a fixed age limit for applicants, as long as they meet all other requirements.

The annual astronaut salary, as mentioned in the recruitment information, is $164,395. However, this figure may change in 2027 or 2028. Selected candidates will be part of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to send humans to the Moon and eventually to Mars. They will help test systems, technology, and operations necessary for future human space exploration. Currently, NASA has 32 active astronauts in its astronaut team, ready to undertake upcoming space missions.