NASA's Administrator <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/people/jared-isaacman/">Jared Isaacman</a> skydived from an aircraft and into the inaugural MAX POWER aerospace festival this past weekend at the Kennedy Space Center. The two-day event featured flight demonstrations from the Air Force Thunderbirds, chats with Artemis III astronauts and NASA leaders, along with simulators featuring the moon rover and Orion capsule. "We're going back to the moon," Isaacman said of NASA's future Artemis IV lunar landing mission along with plans to build a permanent moon base. "I'm grateful every single day I get to wake up and work alongside the best and brightest at NASA." The roaring sounds from jets could be heard overhead as the aircrafts performed daring maneuvers through clear skies while the audience watched in amazement below. "It was great to attend MAX POWER at Kennedy Space Center this weekend to watch the air show, tech demonstrations, and new spaceflight hardware," Congressman Darren Soto said. "We must come together to support NASA's efforts to advance American space leadership and get back to the moon, Mars and beyond." <em>Video by Nick Samuel</em> [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://veronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/f1aa52a5-bf3e-4a97-b151-1dcdb958ddfc.mp4"][/video] The MAX POWER aerospace festival drew thousands of visitors and space fans from around the globe, including <a href="https://veronews.com/2026/11/09/gyac-learns-about-nasa-moon-base-mission-latest-aviation-tech-at-maxpower-expo/">students at the Gifford Youth Achievement Center</a> in Indian River County. The exposition was held on Saturday, Nov. 7 and Sunday, Nov. 8. The event <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/maxpower/">featured three experiences:</a> the Air Dot Show, The UP.Summit highlighting the latest innovations in aviation transportation and an all-access pass to the visitor complex at the Kennedy Space Center. [caption id="attachment_238102" align="alignleft" width="249"]<img class="wp-image-238102" title="d9f10dc9 cb6a 42e5 a082 ded261cd21c9" src="https://veronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/d9f10dc9-cb6a-42e5-a082-ded261cd21c9.jpg" alt="d9f10dc9 cb6a 42e5 a082 ded261cd21c9" width="249" height="289" /> NASA's Administrator Jared Isaacman speaks at the Air Dot Show during the MAX POWER aerospace expo. PHOTO BY NICK SAMUEL[/caption] The students from Gifford learned about the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/moonbase-phases/">three phases of the moon base</a> as part of a continuation of STEM-related learning at GYAC. "We knew on our nation's 250th birthday that we had to open the Kennedy Space Center the year that we returned our astronauts to the lunar environment and put on a show," Isaacman said in reference to the <a href="https://veronews.com/2026/04/01/artemis-ii-launches-to-the-moon-for-historic-lunar-fly-by-mission/">historic Artemis II mission</a> in April where astronauts did a fly-by around the moon and back on a 10-day mission. A newly announced aerospace and technology airshow - called CapeWeek - will be held in March 2028 at the Kennedy Space Center shuttle strip. "We are going to build a massive exposition center here. It's going to be ten times bigger in March." <em>Video by Nick Samuel</em> [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://veronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/7c33e853-8404-42eb-a5d7-be9cd4b5f410.mp4"][/video] <strong>Artemis III</strong> <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/our-artemis-iii-crew/">The Artemis III crew</a> are NASA Astronauts Frank Rubio, Randy Bresnik, Andre Douglas and European Space Agency Astronaut Luca Parmitano. The crew, who were joined onstage by SpaceX astronauts at the Air Dot Show, will launch to low earth orbit next year. The space explorers will test docking and system checkout operations with commercial lunar landers before humans will be sent to land on the moon in 2028 during <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-iv/">Artemis IV</a>. Douglas was not present at MAX POWER. In his place was NASA Astronaut Bob "Farmer" Hines, the backup member for the mission. [caption id="attachment_238103" align="alignright" width="275"]<img class="wp-image-238103" title="6cc22d85 9ba2 4370 9e9a a37efecda43e (1)" src="https://veronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/6cc22d85-9ba2-4370-9e9a-a37efecda43e-1.jpg" alt="6cc22d85 9ba2 4370 9e9a a37efecda43e (1)" width="275" height="206" /> The Artemis III astronauts at the Air Dot Show during the MAX POWER aerospace expo. PHOTO BY NICK SAMUEL[/caption] Hines, along with NASA Astronaut Jessica Watkins, <a href="https://veronews.com/2023/06/16/gardening-science-and-space-gyac-immerses-students-in-stem-activities/">spoke with Gifford Youth Achievement Center students</a> in 2022 in Indian River County <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZx12EvDt5g&t=4s">via livestream while aboard the International Space Station</a>. Hines said there is no single correct path to become an astronaut. "We all come from different backgrounds, states, countries and professions. I think the one thing we all have in common is if we didn't become an astronaut, we loved what we were doing with our old jobs," Hines said. "Pursue things you are really interested in. It is a great spot to be in when you are enjoying the things you are doing, contributing to society and making the world a better place. If you go out and purse those things, you are winning in life." <strong>Exhibits</strong> [caption id="attachment_238088" align="alignleft" width="280"]<img class="wp-image-238088" title="a885b574 854c 4066 b74f b8c7ba7a07ba" src="https://veronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/a885b574-854c-4066-b74f-b8c7ba7a07ba.jpg" alt="a885b574 854c 4066 b74f b8c7ba7a07ba" width="280" height="210" /> NASA Robotics Design Engineer Brandon Sidoti <br />PHOTO BY NICK SAMUEL[/caption] Thousands of astro-enthusiasts descended upon the Air Dot Show at the Kennedy Space Center. Attendees learned about different vehicles the astronauts will use to travel on the lunar surface and devices to collect materials. One device on display was the lunar all-terrain vehicle. The vehicle was designed by NASA engineers at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. "This is meant for one astronaut to be transported along the surface of the moon. It also has the ability to transfer science payloads as well as tools," said Brandon Sidoti, robotics design engineer for NASA's Johnson Space Center. "We will have two lunar all-terrain vehicles." <strong>Becoming an Astronaut</strong> NASA announced Saturday that it opened applications for the next class of American astronauts. Those interested have until Dec. 3 to submit applications. Applications can be submitted at usajobs.gov. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/astronauts/astronaut-requirements/">Anyone interested in becoming a NASA astronaut</a> must be a U.S. citizen; hold a master's degree in a field of science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM); have two years of related, professional experience and pass a NASA astronaut physical. Candidates must have skills in leadership, teamwork and communications. The world's leading space agency will also launch a pipeline for students to work their way to become space travelers. NASA's U.S. Space Academy will begin accepting applications for students ages 17-to-22 in 2027. About 300 students will make up the first class that will begin in summer 2028. Chosen alumni from the space academy will go on to become astronauts. A location for the space academy has not yet been determined. 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