U.S. Navy Capt. Scott Tingle will become the 23rd Purdue University graduate to become an astronaut.
NASA confirmed Friday that Tingle, 50, had been assigned to a mission to the International Space Station beginning in September 2017. Tingle will remain in space for six months and return in March 2018.
L-18 Months. I'm very excited and honored to commence training as a member of Soyuz MS-06 and ISS Expeditions 53/54. Happy 2016!
— Scott D. Tingle (@Astro_Maker) January 2, 2016
Tingle, who will be the only U.S. astronaut going up on the mission, began training in Russia in January.
EVA Training at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab. Some of the most challenging training I've ever done! #AstronautTraining pic.twitter.com/uRFdVPPm9O
— Scott D. Tingle (@Astro_Maker) April 30, 2016
Tingle earned a Master's in mechanical engineering from Purdue in 1988 with a specialty in fluid mechanics and propulsion.
He was one of nine astronaut candidates originally selected in 2009 from among more than 3,500 applicants.
Tingle has accumulated more than 4,000 flight hours in 48 types of aircraft, including combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. His decorations include a Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, six Navy Commendation Medals to include a Combat V, four Navy Achievement Medals and various unit commendations.
He an his wife, Raynette, have three children, Amy, Sean and Eric.
