NASA Recruits Next Astronaut Class for Moon Base, Mars Plans

NASA has released a new recruitment video seeking its next class of astronauts, tying the call for applicants to its work on a permanent base on the moon and what the agency describes as a possible future crewed mission to Mars, according to a clip published by ABC News on November 8, 2026.

The video runs one minute and 46 seconds and is framed as a pitch to "new space explorers," per the video's published description. Beyond that framing, the publicly available material does not detail who qualifies, how many seats are open, or when an application window closes.

What does NASA's new video actually say?

The description accompanying the clip states that NASA is looking for new astronauts "as it works to create a permanent base on the moon and someday possibly launching humans to Mars," according to ABC News. That is the full scope of the public framing attached to the release — a recruitment pitch anchored to two long-running NASA goals rather than a detailed jobs posting. The video does not, based on the available description, spell out mission names, launch dates, or selection numbers.

Why is NASA linking recruitment to a moon base?

The stated goal — "a permanent base on the moon" — implies a need for a rotating supply of trained crew members rather than a single flight roster. A base intended to operate continuously, rather than host occasional short visits, generally requires personnel available for repeat or staggered rotations, which is consistent with an agency recruiting a fresh astronaut class rather than relying solely on its existing corps. The video description frames the moon base as the active, near-term project driving the call for applicants, ahead of any Mars timeline.

How solid is the Mars plan, based on what NASA has said?

NASA's own language is notably hedged. The agency describes Mars as a "someday possibly" destination, not a scheduled mission, according to the video description cited by ABC News. That phrasing puts Mars in a different category than the moon base: the lunar outpost is described as something NASA is actively building toward, while a human Mars mission is described only as a longer-range possibility. Readers should treat the two goals as sitting on different timelines rather than as parallel, equally firm commitments.

What hasn't NASA disclosed in this recruitment push?

The published video description does not include an application deadline, a target class size, educational or physical requirements, or a cost estimate for either the moon base program or a prospective Mars mission. Historically, NASA has used video and social media campaigns to generate public interest ahead of fuller recruitment announcements carried on its own channels, but the material reviewed here — the ABC News clip and its accompanying text — does not contain those specifics. Anyone weighing whether to apply would need to look to NASA's own forthcoming postings for eligibility criteria, since none were part of this release.

Where can readers watch the recruitment video?

The clip is available through ABC News, where it was published November 8, 2026, among the outlet's roundup of same-day video coverage. It ran alongside other short-form segments the network posted that day, a mix typical of ABC's daily video output.

What's known about the video, by the numbers

Those two figures are the only quantified details attached to the release. No figures on class size, budget, or mission dates were included in the published description.

The absence of specifics is itself informative: it suggests NASA's video functions as an awareness campaign rather than a formal application announcement. Agencies and companies alike often release short, broadly framed recruitment content before publishing the detailed postings — eligibility rules, deadlines, compensation — that actually govern who can apply and when. Readers interested in applying, or simply tracking how NASA frames its moon-to-Mars ambitions, will need to watch for a follow-up release carrying those details, since this video, as described, did not provide them.

For now, what is confirmed is narrow but clear: NASA wants more astronauts, it is tying that need to an active push for a permanent lunar base, and it continues to describe a human Mars mission as a future possibility rather than a dated commitment.