Purdue grad is one of 9 astronaut candidates HOUSTON, TX (wbaa) - NASA has selected a Purdue graduate as one of nine astronaut candidates.

Scott Tingle is a commander in the U.S. Navy and test pilot. He was selected out of 3500 applicants.

A university spokesperson says he earned a master of science degree in mechanical engineering in 1988.

Tingle and the other future astronauts will be preparing for long missions at the International Space Station and potentially for flights to the moon in new NASA vehicles.

They begin two years of training in August at the Johnson Space Center. © Copyright 2012, wbaa