Here's one that is -- literally -- out of this world.

NASA posted a hiring notice for new astronauts Tuesday, seeking for the first time in almost 30 years men and women to fly aboard spacecraft other than the shuttle.

The pilots, scientists, engineers and educators that NASA recruits will train primarily for three- to six-month missions aboard the international space station. However, some could be among those who stroll on the surface of the moon as part of NASA's plan to return human explorers to the lunar surface by 2020 aboard the shuttle fleet's successor spacecraft.

"Yes, I think it's quite likely," said Ellen Ochoa, who supervises NASA's astronaut corps as the director of flight crew operations at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

There are 10 to 15 openings.

here are the requirements.

ASTRONAUT JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a U.S. citizen between 5-foot-2 and 6-foot-3 in height (to squeeze into Russia's three-passenger Soyuz capsule).

• At least a bachelor's degree in engineering, a biological or physical science, or mathematics; and three years of relevant professional experience.

• Vision correctable to

20/20. For the first time, the space agency will consider applicants who have undergone successful refractive eye surgery.

Being too old, too fat, and too far outside the educational requirements, I don't think I'll make the effort to apply. However, I wish those who apply good luck -- and hope that a few of the younger folks from church who work at NASA put their applications in.

And I can't wait to see those selected lead teh next generation of space exploration.