Indian-American among 12 new astronauts chosen by NASA

NASA has chosen 12 new astronauts, including an Indian-American, from a record number of over 18,000 applicants, who will be trained for missions into Earth orbit and to deep space. 

The new candidates include six military officers, three scientists, two medical doctors, a lead engineer at SpaceX and a NASA research



pilot. The seven men and five women comprise the 22nd class of American spaceflight trainees since 1959. 

Indian American Lt Col Raja Grinder Chari, is a commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron and the Director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base in California.