NASA has announced the recruitment of the next group of astronauts: details

US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) h. This program is extremely popular among Americans.

You can apply for participation submit until April 2nd, but only US citizens can do it, writes The New York Times. However, the chances of getting training at NASA are small.

“It’s usually a very popular program. And when I say ‘popular’, I’m putting it down a lot.”,” says April Jordan, NASA astronaut selection manager.

The last time NASA announced a competition for the recruitment of a group of astronauts was in 2020. At that time, more than 12,000 people applied for it. It took the agency a year and a half to consider them.

In the end, NASA selected only 10 candidates, which is 0.083% of applicants. For comparison, 3.5% of willing applicants enter Harvard University.

To become a NASA astronaut, you must also pass the astronaut physical exam.

NASA sets a fairly high bar for education: a master’s degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, plus at least three years of relevant professional experience.

The agency tries to be open, so it does not set age restrictions or vision requirements.

“We want the pool of astronaut candidates we select to reflect the nation they represent.” – says April Jordan.

Many applicants are attracted by the potential to become the first astronauts to visit Mars. NASA aims to accomplish this mission in the 2030s.

But according to Victor Glover, a veteran astronaut who plans to go to the moon in 2025, hopefuls should also not forget the sacrifices they will have to make along the way.

“A trip to Mars takes six to nine months. You will be away from your family for one to three years. Think about it, are you really ready for that?” – he addresses those who are willing.

We will remind, at NASA showed a spacecraft that will take astronauts to the moon for the first time in 50 years.