P. Sarojini
Florida, USA (CWBN)_ The American space agency NASA on Wednesday announced the 18 final candidates who have been selected for the manned mission to moon. The Indian-American US Air Force colonel Raja Jon Vurputoor Chari was one among the final 18 astronauts, which includes half of them women, who have been chosen by NASA for their groundbreaking manned trip to the Moon.
According to NASA, the new lunar research program aims to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by the year 2024. By the end of the decade, this mission is also aiming to create a sustainable human lunar occupancy.
NASA on Wednesday announced the final 18 astronauts who will prepare for their Artemis moon-landing mission. The only Indian American on the list is the 43-year-old Raja Chari, who is a graduate from US Air Force Academy, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the US Naval Test Pilot School. He was chosen to join the Astronaut Candidate Class of 2017 by NASA. In August 2017, he reported for service and is now qualifying for a mission assignment following completion of the initial astronaut candidate training.
The Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday delivered his speech at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida while introducing the selected Artemis Team members during the eighth National Space Council meeting. He said, “My fellow Americans, I give you the heroes of the future who will carry us back to the Moon and beyond: the Artemis Generation”. He added, “It really is amazing to think that the next man and the first woman on the Moon are among the names that we just read… We started today reflecting on a great hero of the past. The Artemis Generation are the heroes of American space exploration in the future”.
The Artemis Team astronauts hail from a varied range of backgrounds, expertise and experience. The age range of the astronaut members is between 30 and 40, with the eldest being 55 and the youngest 32. Christina Koch and Jessica Meir, the two astronauts who last year performed the first all-female spacewalk in the world, are the other two female candidates of the roster.
The Vice President said, “Walking on the lunar surface would be a dream come true for any one of us, and any part we can play in making that happen is an honour”.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said, “As a result, we’re excited to share this next step in exploration naming the Artemis Team of astronauts who will lead the way, which includes the first woman and next man to walk on the lunar surface”.
