Direct answer: NASA is accepting applications for its next astronaut-candidate class until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, December 3, 2026. The vacancy is open to U.S. citizens, pays $164,395 per year, and is based at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Start with the official USAJOBS astronaut vacancy, not a third-party job listing.[1][3]
Fast eligibility check: You need U.S. citizenship, qualifying graduate-level STEM/medical/test-pilot education, the required professional or flight experience, and the ability to pass NASA’s medical, fitness, security and training requirements. A bachelor’s degree by itself does not qualify.[1][3]
NASA astronaut application at a glance
- Deadline: December 3, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET.[3]
- Official application: USAJOBS announcement 891970300.[3]
- Location: Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas.[3]
- Salary: $164,395 per year under the 2026 schedule; NASA says the rate will be adjusted for any 2027/2028 increase.[3]
- Work arrangement: Full-time, not remote and not telework-eligible.[3]
- Travel: 76% or more.[3]
- Initial appointment: 30-month term appointment; successful graduates move to permanent appointments.[3]
- Selection target: NASA expects to announce the class in fall 2027, with candidates reporting in winter 2027/2028.[3]
- Training: Approximately two years before joining the active astronaut corps.[3]
These details come from the live federal vacancy, which should take priority if another page or summary conflicts with it.[3]
1. Check the education requirement
You must qualify through one of these routes:
- Master’s degree: A completed master’s degree in engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science or mathematics from an accredited institution.[3]
- Doctoral coursework: At least two academic years—36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours—toward a Ph.D. or related doctorate in an appropriate STEM field.[3]
- Medical qualification: A completed MD, DO, Physician Assistant, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner or related medical degree.[3]
- Test Pilot School: Completed, or currently enrolled in, a nationally or internationally recognized Test Pilot School program that will be finished by July 2027. If this is your only advanced technical qualification, you also need a qualifying STEM bachelor’s degree.[3]
NASA’s November 7 announcement confirms the expanded medical-degree routes and says Test Pilot School or medical-residency completion may extend to July 2027 where specified.[1][3]
Degrees NASA says do not qualify
The USAJOBS announcement explicitly excludes several degree categories, even when they sound adjacent to STEM:
- engineering technology, aviation technology and medical technology.[3]
- psychology, except clinical, physiological or experimental psychology.[3]
- exercise physiology and similar fields.[3]
- social sciences such as geography, anthropology and archaeology.[3]
- aviation, aviation management and similar fields.[3]
Do not guess based on a degree title. Read the vacancy’s Basic Education Requirement and compare the exact major shown on your transcript.[3]
2. Match the experience route
Most non-pilot applicants need at least three years of progressively responsible professional experience gained after completing the qualifying degree. Experience after a bachelor’s degree can count if you later earned the required higher qualification. NASA also accepts relevant K–12 technical teaching experience when the education requirement is met.[3]
Choose only one discipline group in the application—the one best supported by your record:
- Pilot
- Flight Test
- Medical
- Biological and Medical Science
- Physical Science
- Engineering
- Operations
The Operations route is for high-consequence environments involving real-time decisions, intensive teamwork and irreversible physical risk. NASA gives examples including launch or orbital mission control, nuclear-submarine operations, rescue operations, special operations, flight test, and saturation, mixed-gas, deep-sea or cave diving.[3]
Pilot flight-hour options
Pilots may meet the experience requirement through one of these routes:
- High-performance jet: 750 pilot-in-command hours.[3]
- Other fixed-wing aircraft: 1,500 total hours, including 750 as pilot in command.[3]
- Rotary-wing aircraft: 1,000 total hours, including 300 as pilot in command.[3]
Initial flight-training hours and time controlling unmanned aircraft do not count toward the stated pilot totals. Applicants with flight experience must attach NASA’s Pilot Qualifications Form; it is mandatory for the Pilot and Flight Test groups.[3]
3. Prepare the application documents
Use this checklist before opening the assessment:
- [ ] Long-form resume or CV with relevant work, accomplishments, month/year dates and hours worked per week.[3]
- [ ] All STEM transcripts from bachelor’s level upward, whether official or unofficial at the application stage.[3]
- [ ] Five references, including your most recent supervisor, ready for the questionnaire.[3]
- [ ] Pilot Qualifications Form if you have flight experience.[3]
- [ ] Proof of Test Pilot School completion or enrollment, if applicable.[3]
- [ ] Foreign-education equivalency documentation and translated transcripts, if applicable.[3]
- [ ] Every upload under the vacancy’s 5 MB file limit.[3]
The usual USAJOBS two-page resume limit does not apply to this astronaut vacancy. NASA still recommends a concise document focused on relevant qualifications and accomplishments. It says not to upload diplomas, recommendation letters or unsolicited materials.[3]
4. Apply step by step
- Open the official USAJOBS vacancy and read the full announcement.[3]
- Sign in to USAJOBS and select Apply.[3]
- Choose the single discipline group that best matches your strongest qualifying experience.[3]
- Complete the application and initial questionnaire.[3]
- Upload the required resume/CV, transcripts and any route-specific forms.[3]
- Submit before 11:59 p.m. ET on December 3, 2026.[3]
- Follow any USA Hire assessment instructions shown after submission or sent by email.[3]
- Use Track this application in USAJOBS to monitor completion and notices.[3]
NASA advises applicants to set aside at least 2.5 hours for USA Hire assessments. The vacancy says the current assessment window closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on December 3, although some assessment links issued after the announcement closes may carry a 48-hour completion window. Applying early leaves time to resolve missing documents or access problems.[3]
5. Know what the job actually requires
This is not a remote science role with occasional travel. The vacancy describes extensive travel, irregular hours, long training days, underwater work, aircraft operations, confined environments and possible space deployments lasting 12 months or longer.[3]
Selected candidates must be prepared to:
- pass medical, psychiatric, fitness, background and drug screening.[3]
- correct near and distance vision to 20/20 in each eye; glasses and qualifying refractive surgery are allowed.[3]
- pass a swimming test in the first month.[3]
- train in spacecraft systems, spacewalking, robotics, aircraft operations, languages and team skills.[3]
- work nights, weekends, holidays and shifting sleep cycles.[3]
- spend extended periods away from family while training internationally.[3]
- serve as a public representative of NASA.[3]
Selection into the candidate program does not guarantee a spaceflight—or even final graduation into the astronaut corps. Mission assignments depend on future needs and other factors outside an individual candidate’s control.[3]
6. What happens after applying
NASA says the selection process should take about one year. Initial screening reviews whether the submitted material proves the minimum education and experience requirements. Later stages may include additional online assessments, in-person simulations, role plays, interviews, and medical and psychiatric screening.[3] NASA’s selection-timeline guidance warns that schedules may be accelerated or extended based on the number of applicants.[5]
The previous application round drew more than 8,000 applicants; NASA selected 10 candidates in 2025.[1][2]
For this round, NASA expects final selections in late 2027, followed by approximately two years of training in areas such as spacewalking, robotics, lunar geology and high-performance aircraft operations.[1]
NASA uses “astronaut candidate” for a selected person who is still completing the candidacy training program at Johnson Space Center.[4]
Common application mistakes to avoid
Applying with only a bachelor’s degree
A bachelor’s degree alone is not enough. It may support the Test Pilot School route, but only under the conditions listed in the vacancy.[3]
Uploading only the highest transcript
NASA requires all STEM-related transcripts, including qualifying bachelor’s and graduate records.[3]
Choosing the wrong discipline
You may select only one discipline group. Choose the route your resume can prove with the clearest, strongest evidence—not the one that sounds most impressive.[3]
Leaving dates or weekly hours unclear
NASA uses dates and hours per week to determine whether experience meets the requirement. Include month/year ranges and working hours for relevant roles.[3]
Waiting until the final hour
The application includes documents, a questionnaire and potentially lengthy assessments. Submit early enough to fix file-size, transcript or login issues.
Overstating experience or using prohibited assistance
NASA says intentional misrepresentation, cheating or prohibited use of advanced AI assistance can remove an applicant from consideration. Follow the vacancy’s current rules and write a truthful application in your own words.[3]
Frequently asked questions
When is the NASA astronaut application deadline?
The completed application is due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on December 3, 2026.[1][3]
What is the NASA astronaut salary in 2026?
The vacancy lists $164,395 per year and says that figure reflects the 2026 pay schedule. It may be adjusted for later pay-schedule increases.[3]
Do I need to be a military pilot?
No. NASA accepts qualifying applicants across engineering, medicine, biological and physical sciences, operations, flight test and pilot disciplines. Prior flight experience is not required for every route.[3]
Can non-U.S. citizens apply?
No. This NASA vacancy is open to U.S. citizens. A foreign degree may be used only when the applicant is otherwise eligible and provides the required U.S. equivalency evidence and translated transcripts.[3]
Is the NASA astronaut job remote?
No. The vacancy is based at Johnson Space Center in Houston and lists both remote work and telework as unavailable.[3]
Does applying guarantee a mission to the Moon or Mars?
No. Successful applicants must first complete candidate training, and NASA explicitly says a flight assignment is not guaranteed.[3]
When will NASA announce the selected class?
NASA anticipates announcing the class in fall 2027, with selected candidates reporting to Johnson Space Center in winter 2027/2028. The schedule may change.[3]
Sources
- NASA Seeks Next Generation of Explorers to Join Astronaut Corps
- NASA is looking for astronauts to live and work on the Moon
- USAJOBS – Astronaut Candidate
- Become An Astronaut – NASA
- Astronaut Selection Timeline – NASA