Anyone hoping to train for the Moon has less than three weeks left to act. NASA is accepting applications for its next astronaut class until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, Dec. 3, according to the agency's official recruitment announcement. The agency expects to make its final selection in late 2027.

The call opened Nov. 7 and is built around lunar work — not low Earth orbit alone. NASA says the new candidates will train to operate on the lunar surface and support increasingly difficult missions near the Moon's South Pole, where the agency plans a Moon Base and groundwork for crewed trips to Mars.

For most readers, the practical question is whether they qualify and whether there is still time to assemble a strong file. The answer depends on a short list of firm requirements, a highly competitive review and a calendar that leaves little room for last-minute paperwork.

The Degree, Experience and Medical Bar

Applicants must be U.S. citizens. The standard education requirement is a master's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or computer science from an accredited institution, NASA says.

There are other routes in. At least two years of doctoral work in those fields or in mathematics counts, and so does a medical degree, which NASA defines broadly to include MD, DO, PA, DNP and FNP credentials. That means physician assistants and nurse practitioners can apply alongside physicians. Completion of, or current enrollment in, a nationally recognized test pilot school program finished by July 2027 also qualifies, though applicants on that path also need a STEM bachelor's degree.

After the qualifying degree, candidates need at least three years of related professional experience. Physicians can count residency if it is completed by July 2027. Pilots can substitute flight time: 750 hours as pilot in command of high-performance jets, 1,500 total hours in other fixed-wing aircraft with 750 as pilot in command, or 1,000 hours in helicopters with 300 as pilot in command.

Every applicant must also pass NASA's long-duration astronaut flight physical, and the agency says it weighs leadership, teamwork, and communication skills alongside technical credentials. The starting salary is $164,395, NPR reported.

Training Built Around Lunar Rocks and Spacewalks

Those selected will study spacewalking, lunar geology and high-performance aircraft operations, among other skills, according to NASA and a summary of the posting by NewSpace Economy. The geology piece reflects where the agency is heading. The lunar south polar region is a target because scientists believe shadowed craters there hold water ice, a resource that could one day supply drinking water, oxygen, and rocket propellant for a long-term outpost.

That makes future crews part field geologists — and part sample curators. They will need to read terrain, choose samples, and describe what they see in a way scientists on Earth can trust, often under harsh low-angle sunlight near the pole.

Training is mandatory and lasts about two years, with new candidates expected to start by early 2028, the Associated Press reported. A flight assignment could come several years after that.

Artemis III astronaut Frank Rubio offered a reality check for applicants picturing nonstop moonwalks. He told the AP that actual Moon work would be "about 1% of your experience," with the rest spent training, supporting other crews and doing ground work.

Odds, Timeline and the Artemis Schedule

The competition is steep. When NASA last opened applications in 2024, more than 8,000 people applied and 10 were selected, with the class announced Sept. 22, 2025, at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Those 10 are now nearly two years into training. The new group will be NASA's 25th astronaut class since the Mercury Seven in 1959.

NASA currently has 32 active astronauts, a number officials say is too small for the work ahead. "We have far more work than we have astronauts," Artemis III commander Randy Bresnik told the AP.

The schedule behind that demand is moving. Artemis II flew four astronauts around the Moon in April. Artemis III is now a crewed test in Earth orbit, where Orion will practice docking with lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin, and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said he is "very confident" it will launch in 2027. Artemis IV is planned to land two astronauts near the lunar south pole, with NASA targeting 2028.

That timing matters for applicants. A class picked in late 2027 and trained through about 2030 would not fly the first landing. Its members would be candidates for later missions that expand surface operations, though NASA has made no promise that any individual will reach the Moon and has not said how many people it will select.

"This is an extraordinary time to join NASA's astronaut corps," Isaacman said in the agency's announcement.

Practical Steps Before the Deadline

The cutoff is set in Eastern time. That is 8:59 p.m. Pacific time in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, 9:59 p.m. in Denver and Phoenix, and 10:59 p.m. in Houston, Dallas and Chicago. Applicants in Hawaii have until 6:59 p.m. local time.

A reasonable plan is to read the full announcement first, then gather transcripts, proof of degree completion, documentation of professional experience and, for pilots, verified flight logs. Federal application portals can slow down near a deadline, so submitting several days early is a sensible precaution, not a requirement.

Applicants should rely only on NASA's official links, which are listed in the agency's release. NASA does not require outside paid services to apply, and third-party sites that promise to improve someone's odds are not part of the agency's process.

Some details remain open. NASA has not published a target class size, and the timeline for interviews will depend on how many applications arrive. Scott Tingle, chief astronaut and chair of the Astronaut Selection Board, framed the job in historical terms, calling it "a chance to join a legacy of explorers who have pushed the boundaries of discovery."

The bottom line is that qualified U.S. citizens have until 11:59 p.m. EST on Dec. 3 to apply, the odds are long, and the reward is a shot at helping build humanity's first sustained presence on another world. As NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson put it, "The window is open. The mission is waiting."

What Readers Want to Know

When is the NASA astronaut application deadline?

Applications close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026.

Do I need a master's degree to apply?

The standard route is a master's in engineering, biological science, physical science or computer science. Two years of doctoral work, a qualifying medical degree or test pilot school can substitute.

Can nurses and physician assistants apply?

Yes. NASA lists PA, DNP, and FNP degrees among the medical credentials that meet the education requirement.

How many people applied last time?

More than 8,000 people applied in 2024, and NASA selected 10 candidates in September 2025.

What will new astronauts train for?

Spacewalking, lunar geology, high-performance aircraft operations, and other skills for living and working on the Moon and beyond.

When will NASA announce the new class?

NASA expects to make its final selection in late 2027, with training expected to begin by early 2028.

Will the new class land on the Moon?

NASA has made no guarantee. The class would be eligible for later Artemis missions after the first landing, now targeted for Artemis IV in 2028.