Last Updated: Raja Chari Is The Only Indian-American Selected For NASA’s Mission To Moon, Netizens Cheer An Indian-American US Air Force colonel, Raja Chari is now among the 18 astronauts who have been selected by NASA for its manned mission to the Moon. An Indian-American US Air Force colonel, Raja Jon Vurputoor Chari is now among the 18 astronauts who have been selected by NASA for its manned mission to the Moon. While taking to Twitter, the US space agency informed that Chari will 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. The 43-year-old was selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class and he is also a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and US Naval Test Pilot School.