Raja Von Vurputoor Chari (File photo)
HYDERABAD: Days after being chosen by Nasa for the moon mission in 2024, Indian-American astronaut with roots in Telangana, Raja Jon Vurputoor Chari, has now been selected for another space mission.
Chari will be among three astronauts selected by the Nasa and European Space Agency (ESA) to serve as crew members for the NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the international space station (ISS). The launch is scheduled for next year. “Excited and honoured to be training in preparation for the trip,” Chari said in a tweet.
He will train with two other astronauts — Rom Marshburn and Mathhias Maurer — who have been selected for the mission to the ISS. Nasa announced that Chari will serve as a commander, Marshburn as pilot and Maurer as mission specialist. Another crew member will also be selected later. “This will be the first space flight for Chari,” the Nasa said.