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

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.