Want to go to Mars? NASA may hire you – A look at requirements, salary, and former Latino astronauts

Every aspiring Buzz Aldrin - or Buzz Lightyear - will have a shot at living their childhood dream when NASA begins accepting application for the next class of astronauts next month.

On Wednesday, the government agency announced it will hire Average Joe's for future missions to the International Space Station and, possibly, to Mars. The last time an American crew went to space was in 2011, just before the space shuttle program was shut down.

"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," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in a statement posted to Twitter. "Those selected for this service will fly on U.S.-made spacecraft from American soil, advance critical science and research aboard the International Space Station, and help push the boundaries of technology in the proving ground of deep space."

NASA's requirements are surprisingly lenient. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in mathematics, biological science, physical science, or engineering from an accredited institution, though an advanced degree is preferred. Candidates must also have 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time under their belt, or "at least three years of related, progressively responsible professional experience," according to Wednesday's press release.

There are no age restrictions, but applicants are subject to a physical exam that looks for 20/20 vision, low blood pressure, and a height between 5 ft. 2 in. and 6 ft. 3 in. This is followed by a weeklong series of medical screening, in-depth interviews, and orientation.

The annual reward for meeting NASA's goals: a $66,000 starting salary that can go as high as $144,566 per year with experience.

Of thousands of candidates over the last half century, NASA has only selected 321 to become astronauts; 11 came from a Latino background, including U.S. born Sidney Gutierrez and Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic female in space. The first Mexico-born astronaut was Rodolfo Neri Vela, who travelled 2.4 million miles and logged over 165 hours during his first and only mission in 1980.

Those hoping to follow in their footsteps have from Dec. 14 through mid-February to turn in an application. More information can be found at both usajobs.gov and nasa.gov/astronauts.