The new 2017 class of NASA astronauts have been announced and at least two Asian Americans are among those accepted to the program.
The newly named dozen was chosen among an applicant pool of 18,000-a record number.
According to Phys.org, among those named were Dr. Jonny Kim, a trained navy SEAL who is completing his medical residency at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“We’re just happy to be here,” Kim said on behalf of the class.
What members of the class will do in the future “may be a little unclear,” Kim continued.
NASA has not staged a flight from one of its own bases since 2011. Instead astronauts have accompanied Russian cosmonauts on their flights.
Also named was Raja Chari who is a Lieutenant Colonel with the U.S. Air Force.
Zee reports Chari was born in Milwaukee and raised in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He is married and a father of three children.
He also has numerous awards including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, an Iraq Campaign Medal, a Korean Defense Service Medal and the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal.
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