CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA is recruiting a new generation of astronauts to help advance its Artemis Program, expand human exploration beyond Earth's orbit and eventually establish a sustained presence on the moon. The space agency is accepting applications for its 25th astronaut class as it prepares for a new era of lunar exploration and future missions to Mars.

NASA officials announced the recruitment campaign Saturday during an air show at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the agency promoted its plans for returning astronauts to the lunar surface and developing the technology needed for a permanent moon base.

The application deadline is Dec. 3, with NASA expecting to announce its final selections by late 2027. Successful candidates are scheduled to begin astronaut training in early 2028.

The recruitment comes as NASA prepares to expand its astronaut corps. The agency currently has 32 active astronauts, and officials say additional personnel will be needed to support its increasingly ambitious space exploration plans.

"We have far more work than we have astronauts," Artemis III commander Randy Bresnik told The Associated Press during Saturday's announcement.

NASA's Artemis Program: How It Began

NASA's Artemis Program traces its origins to December 2017, when the Trump administration issued Space Policy Directive-1, calling for renewed American human exploration of the moon and eventually Mars.

NASA formally introduced the Artemis name in 2019. The program was named after the Greek goddess of the moon and twin sister of Apollo, reflecting its connection to the historic Apollo lunar missions of the 1960s and 1970s.

The program aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface, establish a long-term human presence and develop technologies that could eventually support crewed missions to Mars.

Unlike the Apollo program, which focused primarily on reaching the moon and completing a series of landings, Artemis is designed to support repeated lunar missions, scientific research and the development of infrastructure for extended human exploration.

NASA also plans to work with international partners and private aerospace companies to develop spacecraft, lunar landers, rovers and other equipment needed for future missions.

From Apollo 11 to Artemis: A History of Human Moon Exploration

Human exploration of the moon began during the Cold War space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.

In December 1968, NASA's Apollo 8 mission became the first crewed spacecraft to travel to lunar orbit. Astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell and William Anders circled the moon before safely returning to Earth.

The historic achievement paved the way for Apollo 11, which launched July 16, 1969.

On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon while Michael Collins remained aboard the command module in lunar orbit.

Armstrong's first steps on the lunar surface marked one of the most significant milestones in the history of space exploration.

Artemis Program Included Six Moon Missions

NASA subsequently completed five additional successful lunar landings through the Apollo program. The missions included Apollo 12, Apollo 14, Apollo 15, Apollo 16 and Apollo 17.

The final mission, Apollo 17, launched in December 1972. Astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt explored the lunar surface, while Ronald Evans remained in lunar orbit.

Cernan became the last human to walk on the moon.

More than five decades passed without another human landing on the lunar surface, although robotic spacecraft and scientific missions continued exploring the moon.

Artemis Missions Prepare for a New Lunar Era

NASA's Artemis campaign is intended to end that long absence and establish a foundation for sustained lunar exploration.

Artemis I, an uncrewed test flight launched in November 2022, successfully demonstrated the capabilities of NASA's Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft.

Artemis II followed in April 2026, carrying four astronauts on a crewed flight around the moon and back to Earth. The mission marked the first time humans had traveled to the vicinity of the moon since the Apollo era.

NASA's next major step is Artemis III, currently planned as a 2027 mission focused on testing spacecraft and lunar lander systems in Earth orbit.

The mission is expected to help prepare NASA for Artemis IV, which is targeted to carry astronauts to the lunar surface in 2028. The agency plans to send astronauts toward the lunar south pole, an area of particular scientific interest because of the possibility of water ice in permanently shadowed regions.

NASA also envisions developing a lunar base supported by rovers, robotic systems, living and working structures, and power infrastructure.

NASA's lunar exploration initiative dates to the 2017 policy directive, while the Artemis name was introduced in 2019. The distinction is important when describing when the program began. NASA's current mission information also identifies Artemis III as a 2027 systems demonstration and Artemis IV as the planned 2028 lunar landing.

Becoming an Astronaut Requires Patience and Preparation

NASA's recruitment campaign is attracting people interested in participating in the next chapter of human space exploration.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, hold college degrees and have professional work experience. Selected candidates must complete approximately two years of mandatory astronaut training before becoming eligible for future missions.

However, completing training does not guarantee an immediate spaceflight assignment. Astronauts can spend several additional years preparing for missions, conducting research and supporting operations from Earth.

Artemis III astronaut Frank Rubio, who holds the U.S. record for the longest consecutive spaceflight at 371 days, emphasized that much of an astronaut's career involves work on the ground rather than traveling into space.

"It's important for them to realize most of that work is not going to the moon, right?" Rubio told the AP. "That will be about 1% of your experience. What you're doing is contributing to the mission of going to the moon."

NASA received more than 8,000 applications during its previous astronaut recruitment campaign two years ago. Ten candidates were selected in September 2025.

A New Generation of Lunar Explorers

The new astronaut class will help NASA prepare for missions that could fundamentally change the way humans explore and operate beyond Earth.

The agency's long-term objectives include establishing a sustained human presence on the moon, conducting scientific research and testing technologies that could eventually support journeys to Mars.

The recruitment campaign also reflects the growing importance of international partnerships and private companies in modern space exploration.

For the astronauts selected, the opportunity could mean becoming part of a historic effort to return humans to the lunar surface and establish the groundwork for future exploration.

NASA officials say the coming years will require additional astronauts, engineers, scientists and technical specialists as the Artemis Program moves from lunar flybys and spacecraft testing toward a more permanent human presence on the moon.

The next generation of astronauts could help make that ambition a reality.