# NASA is hiring! Aspiring astronauts offered a surprising $164,000 salary to work on the Moon: ‘Write the next chapter of human spaceflight’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/nasa-is-hiring-aspiring-astronauts-offered-a-surprising-164000-salary-to-work-on-the-moon-write-the-next-chapter-of-human-spaceflight/
- Published: 2026-11-09T17:59:18+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-09T18:26:06+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/09/science/nasa-is-hiring-aspiring-astronauts-will-work-on-the-moon/
- Topics: Space, Technology, World

## Key points

- NASA is recruiting astronaut candidates at $164,395 a year.
- Applications close on 3 December.
- Selected candidates will complete two years of training.

## Summary

NASA has opened applications for new astronaut candidates, offering an annual salary of $164,395 as it prepares for a return to the Moon and future crewed missions to Mars. The recruitment drive aims to expand the astronaut corps and support plans for a Moon base, making the roles part of NASA’s longer-term human spaceflight programme.

Applicants must be US citizens with an advanced qualification in a relevant STEM field, or at least two years of doctoral study, as well as three years of related professional experience. They must pass a long-duration flight physical and show leadership, teamwork and communication skills; selected candidates will complete two years of training, including jet piloting and spacewalk preparation. Applications close at 11.59pm Eastern time on 3 December; in the previous selection round in 2024, NASA chose 10 candidates from more than 8,000 applications.

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