Washington: Indian-American US Air Force colonel, Raja Jon Vurputoor Chari is among 18 astronauts who have been selected by American space agency  NASA for its ambitious manned mission to the Moon and beyond. This programme will land the first woman and next man on the Moon in 2024 and establish a sustainable human lunar presence by the end of the decade.

According to the report, the American space agency on Wednesday named the 18 astronauts who will train for its Artemis moon-landing programme. The Artemis Generation, Vice President Mike Pence said at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday, "My fellow Americans, I give you the heroes of the future who will carry us back to the Moon and beyond."

Raja Chari, 43, a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and US Naval Test Pilot School, is the only Indian-American in the list. He was selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class. After completing the initial astronaut candidate training is now eligible for a mission assignment. The astronauts on the Artemis Team come from a diverse range of backgrounds, expertise and experience. Most of the astronauts in the group are in their 30s or 40s. 

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