Astronauts Wanted: Anyone Can Apply To NASA For The Next Moon Mission

NASA is looking for its next class of astronauts as the space agency ramps up its efforts to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon. While the public is free to apply online until April 16, the strict requirements mean that only a small sliver of the population has the flight or scientific expertise to be accepted. However, the prerequisites also prevent any billionaire aspiring to live on the lunar surface can’t buy their way into the Artemis program.

The four requirements laid out by NASA sound simple, but they take years to complete. First, applicants must be U.S. citizens, natural born or naturalized. Second, prospective astronauts must hold a master’s degree in an applicable STEM field, engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science or mathematics, with three years of experience in said field. Alternatively, medical doctors can also apply after three years in residence. Neither Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, nor I meet this requirement. I don’t have my own private space company, though.