Nasa

If you've always dreamed of being an astronaut, you're in luck -- Nasa is recruiting.

The space agency has announced that it's on the lookout for "the next class of astronaut candidates". "With more human spacecraft in development in the United States today than at any other time in history, future astronauts will launch once again from the Space Coast of Florida on American-made commercial spacecraft, and carry out deep-space exploration missions that will advance a future human mission to Mars," it said in a statement.


The chosen few will have the chance to fly on one of four US space vessels, including the International Space Station (ISS), and will be selected from a pool of pilots, engineers, scientists and doctors who are willing and able to apply their "considerable knowledge and skills" and "bear tremendous responsibility in orbit". They must also be "determined to succeed", Nasa explained.

The recruits must also have a "high level of education in scientific or technical disciplines, coupled with an outstanding professional background in research, application or education fields".

Candidates must have at least a bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics, with more advanced degrees preferred. They also need several years experience and will have to pass an inflight physical.


Training will take several years, with astronauts engaging in intense physical, psychological and academic training. And any astronauts stationed on the ISS must brush up on their Russian language skills.

"This next group of American space explorers will inspire the Mars generation to reach for new heights, and help us realise the goal of putting boot prints on the Red Planet," said Nasa administrator Charles Bolden. "Those selected for this service will fly on US made spacecraft from American soil, advance critical science and research aboard the International Space Station, and help push the boundaries of technology in the proving ground of deep space."

Nasa will accept applications from 14 December 2015 to February 2016, and is expected to announce candidates in 2017. If you think you've got what it takes, you can apply for the job online.