More than 12,000 people have applied to join NASA’s planned missions to the Moon and Mars.

Applications for the US space agency’s next class of astronauts came to a close last night.

NASA said the huge number of applications highlights the enthusiasm for “America’s plans to explore the Moon and take humanity’s next giant leap – human missions to Mars.”

The Astronaut Selection Board will now work through the applications and invite the most qualified people to interviews at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas.

NASA astronaut Scott Tingle is pictured during a spacewalk to swap out a degraded robotic hand, 23-01-2020. Image: NASA

"Bold new era"

“We’ve entered a bold new era of space exploration with the Artemis program, and we are thrilled to see so many incredible Americans apply to join us,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

“The next class of Artemis Generation astronauts will help us explore more of the Moon than ever before and lead us to the Red Planet.”

The Artemis programme aims to put the first woman on the Moon and begin preparations for a lunar base to launch missions to Mars.

NASA said it increased its education requirements for the next astronaut class – with applicants now needing a master’s degree in science, technology, maths, or engineering to take part.

Artemis

Only 350 people have been selected to train as NASA astronauts since the 1960s.

The agency currently has 48 in its active corps; however, it said it needs many more to “serve as crew aboard spacecraft bound for multiple destinations and propel exploration forward as part of Artemis missions and beyond.”

Selected candidates can look forward to two years of training in skills like spacewalking, robotics, and spacecraft systems.

They will then be ready to launch and live aboard the International Space Station.

The Caribbean islands of (from top left to bottom right) Puerto Rico, Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic are seen from an altitude of 250 miles, 01-01-2018. Image: NASA

Astronaut corps

“We’re able to build such a strong astronaut corps at NASA because we have such a strong pool of applicants to choose from,” said Anne Roemer, manager of the Astronaut Selection Board and director of human resources at Johnson.

“It’s always amazing to see the diversity of education, experience and skills that are represented in our applicants.

“We are excited to start reviewing astronaut applications to identify the next class of astronaut candidates.”

The first launch of the Artemis mission is scheduled for 2024 – with the agency aiming to have continuous missions flying by 2028.

All going well, the first mission to the Red planet could take in the 2030s.