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An Indian-American aerospace industry expert has been appointed as NASA’s new chief technologist to serve as principal advisor to Administrator Bill Nelson on technology policy and programmes at the space agency’s headquarters.
AC Charania joined the space agency in his new role on January 3. He replaces another Indian-American scientist Bhavya Lal, who served as acting chief technologist prior to the former’s appointment.

In his position, Mr Charania will align NASA’s agencywide technology investments with mission needs across six mission directorates and oversee technology collaboration with other federal agencies, the private sector, and external stakeholders, NASA said in a statement on Monday.

The position works within NASA’s Office for Technology, Policy, and Strategy.

“Technology plays a vital role in every NASA mission. Making sure that we’re pursuing the best policy objectives allows this agency to continue to serve as a global leader in innovation,” Bhavya Lal, NASA associate administrator for technology, policy, and strategy, was quoted as saying in the statement.

“Charania is an experienced leader in managing large, rapidly shifting technology portfolios. I am eager for him to apply his knowledge and enthusiasm at NASA,” Lal said.

“The rate of advancement we seek in the 21st century is dependent upon selecting and maturing a portfolio of technologies into systems to execute our missions,” Mr Charania said.

“With this in mind, there are incredible opportunities in partnerships within and outside of NASA. I now look forward to the opportunity to work with the entire community to increase the rate of space and aviation progress,” he added.

Prior to joining NASA, he served as vice president of product strategy at Reliable Robotics, a firm that works to bring certified autonomous vehicles to commercial aviation.

His previous experience also includes working at Blue Origin to mature its lunar permanence strategy, Blue Moon lunar lander program, and multiple technology initiatives with NASA.

Mr Charania has also worked in strategy and business development for the Virgin Galactic (now Virgin Orbit) LauncherOne small satellite launch vehicle programme.

He also served in multiple management and technology roles at SpaceWorks Enterprises, including helping to incubate two startups, Generation Orbit and Terminal Velocity Aerospace.

Mr Charania led the formation of the FastForward industry group focused on high-speed point-to-point transportation, was a NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts fellow, and served on the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group Commercial Advisory Board, according to the release.

He received a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a bachelor’s in economics from Emory University.

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, currently in the United States, highlighted the India story, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and urged the Indian diaspora to expand India’s reach to global markets.

At Edison, Goyal spoke about PM Modi’s management style, citing his ambitious vision, policy boldness, and careful monitoring. He expressed admiration at how America has benefitted from Indian talent.

During an interaction with the Indian community, Goyal, who is on a four-day visit to New York, New Jersey and Washington, highlighted the government’s bid to win over an influential and prosperous segment of the American economic life and prod them to invest in their homeland. The minister expressed a desire to have people of Indian heritage pitch India’s growth story.

“I would invite you to help us shape the contours of a new India, a powerful India and India that will lead global growth and India that is destined to be a ‘Vishwaguru’,” said Goyal, in an address to the Indian diaspora.

“As we take up the G-20 presidency this year, we are demonstrating to the world our abilities and our contributions as we see that in the next 25 years,” added Goyal.

“In the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, not only are we reflecting on our achievements and glory but also focusing on ideas for this Kaal and I will ensure that each one of you contributes to these ideas and efforts. You stand to gain a lot and your families, and businesses have a huge opportunity (to prosper in India),” Goyal said.

He added that India and US are natural partners having trade complementarities, long-standing strategic and economic relationships and a strong people to people contact. Both are vibrant democracies as well, the Union minister noted.

“Both the US and India are vibrant democracies. We both have very strong linkages and bonds of friendship, very strong geopolitical ties, and huge interests in business and trade in the economic well-being of both countries,” Goyal added.

Lauding India’s economy and how it bounced back after the Covid lockdown, Goyal said 2022 was a record trade year, with India’s exports growing to USD 670 billion.

Goyal is in the United States to participate in the 13th Trade Policy Forum (TPF) ministerial meeting, a primary bilateral mechanism on trade, with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai. The top Indian official is also scheduled to call on US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

TPF is a premier forum to resolve trade and investment issues between India and the US. The TPF was established in July 2005 to discuss trade and investment issues.

The objective of the forum is to facilitate trade and investment flow between the two countries, develop and implement trade policies through transparent procedures that comply with international obligations, foster a conducive environment for technological collaboration and innovation and promote inclusive economic growth and job creation in India and the US.

The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry and the trade representative of the US are the co-chairs of the Trade Policy Forum.

The 12th TPF ministerial meeting was held on November 23, 2021 after a gap of four years, in New Delhi.

The Union minister will also meet business leaders in New York, and Washington, apart from engaging with members of the diaspora.

A Commerce ministry release said the forum is a “platform for continuous engagement between two countries in the area of trade and to further the trade and investment relations between the two countries”.

The two countries are also collaborating under the QUAD, I2U2 (India-Israel/ UAE-USA) and IPEF (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework). Regular exchanges at the leadership level have been an integral element of the expanding bilateral engagement.

The outcomes emerging from these visits have been instrumental in further strengthening the multifaceted ties between the two countries.

Indian-origin Manpreet Monica Singh on Friday became the first female Sikh judge in the US. She was sworn in as a judge of the Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 4 in Texas.

“Mama we made it! It is a ‘true honor’ to rep the people of Harris County as a Sikh civil court judge. Thank you to everyone for making this a historic moment, one that someday won’t be an uncommon event – because there will be a judiciary that includes countless Sikh people and other minorities. I’m ready to put my 2 decades of experience to good use,” she wrote in a Facebook post.

Monica Singh was born and raised in Houston and presently lives in Bellaire with her husband and two children. She has been A trial lawyer for two decades and remains involved with many civil rights organisations at the local, state and national levels.

“It means a lot to me because I represent H-town the most, so for it to be us, I’m happy for it…I thought it was important for kids, as they go through their education, that they could see that there’s a possibility for professions that we never had access to before,” she was quoted as saying.

The ceremony took place in a packed courtroom, with Indian-American Judge Ravi Sandill – the state’s first South Asian judge – presiding over the event.

“It’s a really big moment for the Sikh community…When they see someone of colour, someone a little different, they know that possibility is available to them. Manpreet is not only an ambassador for Sikhs, but she’s an ambassador for all women of colour,” Sandill said.

Indian-American gay couple, Amit Shah and Aditya Madiraju, who took the internet by storm with their grand Hindu wedding in New Jersey in 2019, are expecting to welcome their first child in May 2023.

Their fairy-tale wedding was held as per Hindu traditions as the couple pulled stunning twinning outfits.

According to the report by People’s Magazine, the couple had constantly been learning about the hassle of obtaining a biological child, stated People Magazine.

They have come a long way to understand the differences between surrogates, egg donors and gestational carriers, deciding which of the partners would be part of their family’s growth and knowing that having a baby is far more expensive in reality for a same-sex couple than heterosexual parents.

In their struggle to have a child of their own, it took four rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for them to confirm the good news after finding the egg donor.

Aditya told People, “We are hoping us having a baby normalizes it even more, that it doesn’t matter if you’re a same-sex couple, you can just lead the life you want.

He claimed their move to be a guide for those who are trying to have a baby since many gay couples have got married after them.

Aditya further said that they received gratitude from many as their wedding motivated several others who figured out to convince their parents and families for them to be together against the odds of society.

The couple reportedly is curious about how their life would turn out to be and also are excited about celebrating Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day like any other couple.

Amit said, “we won’t be gay parents, we’ll just be parents.”

Celebrating their third wedding anniversary, Aditya wrote on Instagram, “I had a dream and it came true. Now I cherish and hold on to it with love. And I thank the universe every day that he made you for me @amit_aatma.”

He added, “If someone told me that a Telugu boy from New Delhi would marry a Gujarati American from New Jersey I would have learnt to make Dhokla sooner. Thank you for putting up with my drama and thank you for making me a part of your dreams and goals. Cheers to 3 years. Ps – It will happen! Let’s have FAITH!”

They met through a mutual friend in 2016 and revealed their relationship to their parents after being together for one year.