Indian-origin robotics engineer to head NASA’s newly-established Moon to Mars Programme

Amit Kshatriya, an Indian-American engineer with expertise in software and robotics, has been appointed as the inaugural head of NASA‘s newly-established Moon to Mars Programme. This programme has been created to establish a long-term presence on the Moon, which is crucial for preparing for future missions to Mars. Kshatriya will serve as NASA’s first head of the office, with immediate effect. He will immediately assume the role of leading the office, which will oversee the agency’s human exploration activities on the Moon and Mars. As the head of the office, Kshatriya will be responsible for planning and executing human missions to these celestial bodies for the betterment of humanity.

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Kshatriya has previously served as the director of the Space Launch System, Orion, and Exploration Ground Systems programs, where he provided leadership and integration. He has also been involved in various Artemis Campaign Development Division initiatives that aim to support NASA’s Moon to Mars objectives. Prior to his current appointment, Kshatriya held the position of acting deputy associate administrator for the Common Exploration Systems Development Division. Kshatriya’s career in the space program began in 2003, where he worked as a software engineer, robotics engineer, and spacecraft operator primarily focused on the robotic assembly of the International Space Station.

About the Moon to Mars Programme 

The newly-established Moon to Mars Programme Office has been created to assist NASA in achieving its ambitious goal of landing humans on Mars and conducting exploration missions on the Moon. In accordance with the 2022 NASA Authorisation Act, the office is responsible for critical hardware development, mission integration, and risk management functions that support the agency’s exploration approach. This approach is based on using Artemis missions to the Moon as a means of unlocking new scientific discoveries and preparing for future human missions to Mars, as stated in the press release.

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