With Chandrayaan-2 going to land, entire world is on the edge of its seat: Former Nasa astronaut

NEW DELHI:

Jerry Michael Linengar

, a former National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut who had flown on US space shuttles and spent over five months on Russia's Mir space station, is in India to do a special show on Friday night on

Chandrayaan-2 moon landing operation

.


The Nasa veteran is "impressed with Indian Space Research Organisation's robotic mission to Moon". In an exclusive interview to TOI, Jerry Linengar says, "Not only India, the entire world is watching and excited about it. The world is going to be on the edge of its seat. It's humankind accomplishing great stuff. I am an American astronaut, but I came here to watch the event as I feel we are all one on this mission." He said, "As the orbiter has already reached Moon's circle orbit, it is a success. The icing on the cake will be lander touching the lunar surface."

Selected for astronaut training in 1993, Linenger made his first space shuttle flight on the STS-64 mission in 1994. His second shuttle flight was his STS-81 trip to Mir space station. During his stay with two cosmonauts in the space station, he had to face a fire situation. Based on his fire-facing experience, he told TOI, "People should be trained hard but they should always have a contingency plan."

Excited about his live show on

Chandrayaan-2

that will be shown on National Geographic at 11.30pm on Friday night, he said, "I came here from half way around the world to do a special show on National Geographic to share the excitement with Indians on Chandrayaan-2 and celebrate the great accomplishment. I hope that India would share that great moment with me. Future looks great for us."

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