On Monday, NASA started accepting applications for those who are interested to become an astronaut through its website until Feb. 18, 2016, where those who dream of becoming space explorers may apply for full time positions, including positions for a new batch of astronauts who may join a Mars exploration.
"Today, more new human spacecraft are in development in the United States than at any time in history," NASA said in its announcement. "Future astronaut candidates will have the opportunity to explore farther in space than humans have ever been."
According to Time in its report, flying experience is not required and applicants need not be rocket scientists. Neither an advanced degree nor a perfect vision or military experience is needed to be qualified.
Accordingly, to be qualified, CBC News highlighted that the applicants must be U.S. citizens with a bachelor's degree in science, math or engineering. In 2013, only eight were selected from the 6,000 who applied for the positions. Currently, NASA has 47 astronauts
The report added that Canadians are not allowed to apply for the job unless they have a dual citizenship. Instead, Canadians who want to become astronauts are encouraged to reach out to the Canadian Space Agency, which last recruited astronauts in 2008.
Qualified applicants will be moving to Houston and will be paid between $66,000 and $145,000 annually. These new batch of astronauts will also have an opportunity to ride four space crafts: the International Space Station, two commercial capsules and NASA's Orion deep-space exploration vehicle, which is designated for future Mars explorations. NASA Administrator and former astronaut Charles Bolden said in a statement that the new batch of astronauts will "blaze the trail" to Mars.
Initial interviews for applicants will start between the end of 2016 and early 2017 with finalists to be announced in June 2017. Also in 2017, U.S. space crafts are scheduled to return to flight.
