Astra Nova opens new applications for ages 11 to 18

The non-profit online school Astra Nova, derived from SpaceX's experimental school Ad Astra, has opened a new application period, with a deadline of October 15, 2026, for students aged approximately 11 to 18. Admission results will be announced by December 15, and classes will start on January 4, 2027. Applications are free.

The assessment does not consider standardized test scores. Students choose one "difficult question" to answer and upload a 30-second to 2-minute video or audio explaining their reasoning process. The question pool includes: Should we reply to a message from aliens? Does a robot winning a world championship count as a champion? Parents must submit a one-page family letter. About half of the applicants will advance to the next round, with group interviews on November 1.

Tuition is charged based on weekly class hours, with middle and high school rates the same for the 2026-2027 academic year: $4,800 for 2 hours per week, $9,600 for 3 to 4 hours, $14,400 for 5 to 7 hours, $24,000 for 8 to 11 hours, $31,200 for 12 to 15 hours, and $36,000 for 16 hours or more. Offline immersive activities will be charged separately at cost. The school claims to cover proven financial aid gaps as needed.

Classes are conducted live in English, with class sizes typically ranging from 6 to 16 students, coming from about 45 countries. There are currently about 315 middle school students. The high school program lasts 3 to 4 years, with enrollment starting in August 2026. The school was founded by Josh Dahn and Elon Musk in 2014 at the Hawthorne rocket factory campus as Ad Astra and transitioned to a non-profit organization, Astra Nova, in 2020.

In terms of market mechanism, the paying families are those willing to pay high prices for small class live streaming and ethical reasoning courses, while the limited spots and offline workshop slots are sold. The event is driven by the enrollment window, with funds from tuition entering non-profit operations and financial aid pools; beneficiaries are applicants who can demonstrate their reasoning process through video to advance to the next round, while families face the pressure of covering tuition fees and producing video evidence of their children's reasoning process.

Source: Public information