NASA opens astronaut selection for Artemis missions

NASA has opened a new astronaut recruitment process to join the Artemis program, an initiative aimed at returning humans to the lunar surface and establishing a permanent presence on the natural satellite. The announcement was made on Saturday, November 7, 2026, during an event at the Kennedy Space Center in the United States. Interested parties can submit applications until December 3, 2026. The space agency expects to complete the selection by the end of 2027 and begin training in early 2028. Currently, NASA has 32 active astronauts, a number deemed insufficient for the demands of expanding beyond low Earth orbit. This selection will represent the 25th class in the agency's history, whose first class was formed in 1959. To participate, candidates must be U.S. citizens and hold a university degree along with professional experience. The selection process and training require physical and psychological preparation, with an estimated duration of two years for initial training. The lunar campaign gained momentum in April 2026 with the lunar flyby by the Artemis II crew, while the next stage, Artemis 3, is scheduled for the Northern Hemisphere summer of 2027 for docking tests in Earth orbit.