NASA has chosen 12 new astronauts, including an Indian-American, from a record number of over 18,000 applicants, who will be trained for missions into Earth orbit and to deep space. <br/><br/>The new candidates include six military officers, three scientists, two medical doctors, a lead engineer at SpaceX and a NASA research pilot. The seven men and five women comprise the 22nd class of American spaceflight trainees since 1959. <br/><br/>Indian American Lt Col Raja Grinder Chari, is a commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron and the Director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base in California.