NASA Force Applications Open

First applications launched Friday for two-year aerospace engineer positions.

Jack Daleo

Friday, April 17, 2026 at 05:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

NASA Force gives private sector employees the chance to work on projects tied to the Artemis moon mission campaign. [Credit: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

NASA has launched "NASA Force," an initiative recruiting private sector employees for 1-2 year "mission-critical" roles, primarily on the Artemis moon mission projects.
The program aims to address NASA's significant workforce departures and budget cuts by injecting external talent and rebuilding core competencies.
Participants will contribute to key projects like the Orion capsule and Space Launch System, essential for NASA's goal of establishing a permanent moon base by 2028.
NASA Force is a collaboration with the Office of Personnel Management, also allowing NASA personnel to serve in the private sector, with safeguards against conflicts of interest.

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U.S. private sector employees can now apply to work on some of NASA’s most complex projects.

NASA on Friday launched the official website and application portal for NASA Force—a workforce initiative that will recruit the best and brightest aerospace employees for one-to-two-year “mission-critical” roles at the space agency. Per the website, selected personnel “for a few days” will have access to projects under NASA’s Artemis moon mission campaign, including the Orion crew capsule, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket propulsion system, and lunar rovers and landers.