Raja Chari, Indian-American Astronaut. Wikimedia commons
NASA has selected an initial team of 18 astronauts, including Indian-American astronaut Raja Chari, to form the Artemis Team and help pave the way for the next lunar missions, including sending the first woman and next man to walk on the lunar surface in 2024.
Vice President of the US Mike Pence introduced the members of the Artemis Team on Wednesday during the eighth National Space Council meeting at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
“I give you the heroes who will carry us to the Moon and beyond the Artemis Generation,” said Vice President Mike Pence.
NASA announces Artemis Team of 18 astronauts - SpaceFlight Insider spaceflightinsider.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from spaceflightinsider.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
From Texas Tech University:
A Texas Tech University alumnus could be the next man â and the first Hispanic person â to walk on the moon.
Joseph Acaba, a distinguished graduate of the Texas Tech College of Education and a former science teacher, was among the 18 astronauts selected to train for NASAâs Artemis moon-landing program. Vice President Mike Pence announced the elite group of astronauts on Wednesday (Dec. 9).
Acaba earned a Masterâs of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction from the College of Education in 2015. Before being selected as a NASA mission specialist in May 2004, he taught high school science and middle school mathematics and science in Florida.
Anne McClain, Kayla Barron to be among first women on the moon king5.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from king5.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Here is a list of all Indian and Indian-origin astronauts
Rakesh Sharma On April 3, 1984, Rakesh Sharma flew aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 rocket to the space station Salyut 7.
In 1984, former Indian Air Force pilot Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian citizen to travel into space. He was selected as a cosmonaut for a space mission launched jointly by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Soviet Intercosmos space programme.
On April 3, 1984, he flew aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 rocket to the space station Salyut 7. When then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked him what India looked like from outer space, Sharma famously said, “Saare Jahaan se Achcha”.