NASA is seeking industry experts to join its new initiative, titled NASA Force, and applications are being accepted now.
The agency is looking to recruit engineers and technologists to support America’s air and space program, according to a press release.
While NASA is best known for its astronauts and space missions, it employs around 18,000 people across the U.S. in roles spanning research and operations, from laboratories and wind tunnels to mission control centers.
Why It Matters
NASA has opened job applications in the wake of the historic Artemis II mission. From April 1 to April 11, the crew completed a landmark journey around the moon, further from Earth than any humans have traveled in more than 50 years.
Artemis II marked the first crewed test flight of NASA’s Artemis program. Four astronauts—NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, alongside Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen—flew aboard the Orion spacecraft, looping around the moon before safely returning to Earth.
The 10-day mission not only made history, but also captured global attention, reigniting public interest in human space exploration as audiences around the world followed the journey in real time.
What To Know
The hiring initiative aims to recruit “high-impact technical talent” for mission-critical roles across NASA’s exploration, research, and technology programs.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in the release, “NASA Force is bringing highly skilled early- to mid-career engineers, technologists and innovators to help us achieve our world-changing missions.”
He pointed to the success of the Artemis II mission and said that this has “inspired the world and generated tremendous interest to join our workforce to be part of the Golden Age of innovation and exploration.”
Masses of people turned out to watch the launch of Artemis II both in real life and through a screen. According to data from Nielsen, more than 18 million viewers tuned into the launch, while the Smithsonian magazine reported that hundreds of thousands of people turned out to Florida’s Space Coast to witness the take off in person.
The application process has been opened in partnership with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
OPM Director Scott Kupor said in the press release, “NASA Force is about making sure the agency has access to the next generation of innovation and strong partnerships with private sector talent to drive its very ambitious agenda.”
What Happens Next
NASA Force’s first wave of recruitment is targeting aerospace engineers, with more roles expected to open up over the coming weeks and months.
Read the full article here
