NASA is hiring astronaut candidates. Some could “live and work” on the moon.

November 9, 2026 / 1:56 PM EST / CBS News

NASA is recruiting its next class of astronauts, inviting U.S. citizens to apply before midnight ET on Dec. 3 for the chance to "live and work" on the moon.

The space agency's application portal states there are "few vacancies" for the role, which pays $164,395 annually and requires recruits to relocate to Houston, where they'll work at the Johnson Space Center.

While the job is open to all citizens, applicants must meet certain educational criteria and possess specialized experience. In other words, not just any Tom, Dick or Harriet will qualify for the job.

The next group of astronauts is being selected as the U.S. plans to build a moon base and send crewed missions to the lunar surface. NASA's Artemis II mission sent a crew of four astronauts around the moon in April, setting a record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from our planet.

"The people we select could walk on the moon, live and work at the moon base, and help pioneer the systems and operations that will ultimately carry crews to Mars," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement. "Those missions will demand…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/