NASA just announced it's hiring astronauts for Mars missions. Here's how to apply.

Time to dust off those dreams, kids! NASA is accepting applicants for its new class of astronauts from Dec. 14 through mid-February 2016. Successful candidates will be announced the following year.

During the last recruitment period six years ago, more than 6,100 people applied and only eight candidates were chosen.

I'm sorry, are those odds disheartening? Here, let me wipe off that sugar. The truth is, dear space dreamer, the stakes are even higher. The Astronaut Corps is one of the most exclusive gigs in town and acceptance requires not only a bachelor's degree in math, engineering, biology, or physics, but also, ideally, an advanced science degree. Applicants also need to meet such "basic" requirements as a minimum of 1,000 hours piloting a jet plane. Perfect eyesight is necessary and Russian language skills are a plus. Oh, and people shorter than 5'1" or taller than 6'2" need not apply.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Keen space geeks might note that NASA doesn't even have a space capable vehicle in operation, since the space shuttles retired in 2011. But fear not, space is still this job's final frontier. Candidates will fly on spacecraft launching from American soil, work aboard the International Space Station, and, potentially, go where no human has gone before.

"This next group of American space explorers will inspire the Mars generation to reach for new heights, and help us realize the goal of putting boot prints on the Red Planet," said NASA administrator Charles Bolden.

Click here to read the full job description and application requirements. And, when you're ready, you can submit your application here. Good luck!