NASA selected four Astronauts for First US Commercial Spaceflights
- The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on 9 July 2015 selected four astronauts to provide crew transportation services to and from the International Space Station.
- Astronauts and test pilots Robert Behnken, Eric Boe, Douglas Hurley and Sunita Williams will work with The Boeing Company and SpaceX to develop crew transportation systems and provide crew transportation services to and from the International Space Station (ISS)
US approves major Non-NATO Ally status to Tunisia
- United States has approved major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status to Tunisia. Decision in this regard was taken by US State Department. With this Tunisia became the 16th country to become a MNNA of US. Background In May 2015, US President Barack Obama had declared Tunisia as its non-NATO ally while hosting his Tunisian counterpart Beji Caid Essebsi at the White House. This decision was taken by US to support for Tunisia’s decision to join the world’s democracies. US is hoping to strengthen democracy in Tunisia especially after Beji Caid Essebsi became the first democratically elected President in 60-year history of Tunisia.
Sunita Williams among 4 astronauts chosen to fly
NASA’s first commercial space vehicle
- Indian-origin Sunita Williams is among four veteran astronauts chosen by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to fly the first commercial space vehicles. Other three astronauts are Robert Behnken Eric Boe Douglas Hurley They will be trained and prepared for commercial space flights of Boeing Company and SpaceX to provide low-Earth orbit transportation services to and from the International Space Station (ISS). Thus it will open up low-Earth orbit transportation to the private sector and help US be once again self-reliant in space travel, as they are currently dependent on Russia. They will also be part of NASA’s ambitious plan of human landing on Mars by 2030. About Sunita Willams NASA had chosen Williams for the astronaut programme in 1998. Prior to this she was a US Navy captain and was a helicopter pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours experience in more than 30 different aircraft. Presently, she ranks 6th on the all-time US endurance list and 2nd all-time for a female astronaut. She holds the world records for most spacewalk time by a woman astronaut (50 hours, 40 minutes) and most spacewalks by a woman astronaut (seven times).
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