An Indian-origin Engineer will lead America's Moon to Mars

The Moon to Mars program, which will be led by Indian-American software and robotics engineer Amit Kshatriya, was recently launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The program will assist in establishing NASA's long-term presence on the Moon and prepare the agency for its human spaceflight missions to the Moon and Mars.

Kshatriya was previously NASA's Common Exploration Development's acting deputy associate administrator.

About Amit Kshatriya

In 2003, Kshatriya started working for NASA as a software engineer, a robotics engineer, and a spacecraft operator.
According to the website of NASA, his primary focus was on the robotic assembly of the International Space Station.
For his actions as the lead flight director for the 50th expedition to the space station, Kshatriya received the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal.
He is also the lead robotics officer for the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Dragon demonstration mission to the orbiting laboratory, and he is the recipient of the Silver Snoopy, an award given by astronauts to recognize outstanding performance that contributes to flight safety.
Kshatriya has a Master of Arts in Mathematics from The University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California.
He was a space station flight director from 2014 to 2017, leading global teams in the operations and execution of the space station throughout all flight phases.
From 2017 to 2021, he served as deputy manager and then acting manager of the ISS Vehicle Office, where he oversaw hardware program management, logistics, and sustaining engineering.
He joined the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in 2021.

What role will Kshatriya play in the mission to the Moon and Mars?

Kshatriya will be in charge of the planning and execution of the program for human missions to the Moon and Mars in his capacity as deputy associate administrator for the Moon to Mars Program.
In addition, he will serve as the single point of focus for risk management and will direct and lead the programs to ensure that Artemis and Mars' planning, development, and operations comply with ESDMD requirements.