Speaking at a news conference at the agency's headquarters in Longueuil, Quebec, outside Montreal, Minister Jim Prentice encouraged those who might like to apply to watch the agency's Web site next month when details and qualifications are posted.

Canada now has six astronauts who fly on NASA missions and assist in maintaining Canadian space equipment such as the Canadarm robotic arm aboard the International Space Station. The Canadian corps has flown in space 13 times in the last 24 years.

Prentice said the application process will open at the end of May and candidates will complete an application form on the Canadian Space Agency's Web site, www.space.gc.ca, a news release said.

The agency said it expects to announce the names of the new astronauts by May 2009.