May 6, 2016  

Purdue grad receives assignment for space station mission

Scott Tingle

Scott Tingle 
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. —A Purdue University alumnus has received the notice he worked for years to earn.

U.S. Navy Capt. Scott Tingle, 50, Purdue's 23rd astronaut, announced in January that he received assignment to a NASA space mission. NASA confirmed his announcement on Friday (May 6). 

The mission takes him to the International Space Station, beginning in September 2017. He returns in March 2018. In January, Tingle began training in Russia as one of two U.S. astronauts to head aboard the space station in expeditions 53 and 54.

Tingle will be the only U.S. astronaut scheduled to go up for both of the missions.

He earned a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue in 1988, with a specialty in fluid mechanics and propulsion. He was one of nine astronaut candidates originally selected by NASA 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 and his wife, Raynette, have three children, Amy, Sean and Eric.

Tingle is encouraging people interested in his mission training or the space mission to follow him on Twitter (@astro­_maker) or Facebook (Scott Tingle). 

Contact: Brian L. Huchel, 765-494-2084, bhuchel@purdue.edu 

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