In need of 14 new astronauts, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration received 18,300 applications for the spots, according to the Washington Post. That’s a .08 percent acceptance rate. Looking at its future agenda, it’s easy to see why so many want on board.

In today’s storm of partisan politics, constant war, tanking economies and global ecological collapse, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an unstoppable ray of sunshine. With new, unparalleled projects in sight through 2030, genuine excitement regarding its competitors and a corner on the future generation’s jobs and fascination, NASA offers what few other organizations or government agencies can or do: real progress and optimism.

While Congress struggles to pass laws here on earth, and social progress seems to move at sluggish rates, NASA is moving forward with a clear plan and plenty of funding, according to NASA contracting representative and longtime employee Jennifer Layton. Two main projects define its agenda through 2030. The first will capture an asteroid and send it back to space in a new orbital path, and the second, through the Orion capsule, will send humans to Mars for the first time in history (hence the new astronauts).

Because NASA’s past missions have led to groundbreaking research in water purification, crop growth and its efficiency in nations struggling with food disparities and earth’s climate, these missions will likely lead to similar breakthroughs, making their possibilities truly limitless.

Even as countless agencies lobby to the government for more funding and attention, NASA is perfectly happy with its miniscule share of the federal budget, according to Layton. Its share, down from an all-time high of approximately 5 percent of the national budget, now sits at at $18.5 billion, just .04 percent, in 2015, according to the NASA fiscal year budget request. The association expects Congress to maintain its funding into the foreseeable future as its value is established by NASA and supported.

Furthermore, even as private companies such as MarsOne enter into the space travel market, NASA welcomes them, its own competition, into the field. NASA puts the future of space travel before its individual progress.

Even as competitors move into the market, NASA will likely retain its proactive corner on the job market. It is already recruiting the next generation of bright minds through increased social media and outreach, according to Layton. It sees potential in the millennial generation that is often described as self-interested and lazy and looks forward to new ideas instead of pining for the past.

So, as young people enter the job market, NASA should be first on their list of opportunities, even if they are not scientists or potential astronauts. NASA needs lawyers, physicians and analysts as the company pursues its ever-changing agenda. With long-term settlements on Mars and more breakthroughs to come, NASA looks pretty great in today’s cutthroat job market.

Looking at today’s storm of political and economic turmoil, it’s easy to let it consume the future. Instead, look forward to the stars and see the brighter future NASA offers.