Anil Menon, a Nasa astronaut, emergency medicine physician, mechanical engineer, and colonel in the United States Space Force, is set to make his first journey into space alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina.
For Menon, the mission marks the culmination of a career that has bridged medicine, engineering, aviation and human spaceflight.
He earned a bachelor's degree in neurobiology from Harvard University before pursuing both a master's degree in mechanical engineering and a medical degree at Stanford University.
Before becoming an astronaut, Menon served as Nasa's expedition flight surgeon, supporting astronauts living and working aboard the International Space Station.
Nasa astronaut Anil Menon will embark on his first mission to the International Space Station.
When the Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft lifts off from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 14, an Indian-origin astronaut will be among the crew embarking on an eight-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Anil Menon, a Nasa astronaut, emergency medicine physician, mechanical engineer, and colonel in the United States Space Force, is set to make his first journey into space alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina.
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The trio will spend about eight months aboard the orbiting laboratory before returning to Earth in the spring of 2027.
For Menon, the mission marks the culmination of a career that has bridged medicine, engineering, aviation and human spaceflight. Dr Anil Menon's academic journey began with a Bachelor’s Degree in Neurobiology from Harvard University. (Photo: India Today)
WHO IS ASTRONAUT ANIL MENON?
Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Indian and Ukrainian immigrant parents, Menon built an impressive academic foundation before entering the world of space exploration. He earned a bachelor's degree in neurobiology from Harvard University before pursuing both a master's degree in mechanical engineering and a medical degree at Stanford University.
He later completed residencies in emergency medicine and aerospace medicine, earning board certifications in both specialities. His unique combination of technical and medical expertise would eventually place him at the forefront of America's human spaceflight program.
Before becoming an astronaut, Menon served as Nasa's expedition flight surgeon, supporting astronauts living and working aboard the International Space Station.
He also spent time in Star City, Russia, working alongside international crews and supporting Soyuz missions, gaining valuable experience in multinational space operations. Nasa astronaut Anil Menon will embark on his first mission to the International Space Station. (Photo: Nasa)
His career took another major leap when he became SpaceX's first flight surgeon. Menon played a key role in developing the company's medical support systems and helped prepare for the historic Demo-2 mission, which marked the first crewed flight of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft.
Nasa selected Menon as part of its 2021 astronaut class, and after two years of intensive training, he graduated as an astronaut in 2024. Since then, he has been preparing for his first mission to orbit.
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During Expedition missions aboard the ISS, Menon will participate in scientific investigations aimed at preparing humans for future journeys to the Moon and Mars. His work will include studies examining how microgravity affects vein structure, blood flow and blood composition. He will also help test technologies to produce intravenous fluids using the station's potable water system, a capability that could prove critical for deep-space missions.
Away from the laboratory, Menon is a certified flight instructor with more than 1,000 flying hours and is known for participating in endurance events such as Ironman races and the elite Kokoro challenge. He is married to fellow spaceflight professional Anna Menon, a SpaceX employee, and together they have two children.
As Menon prepares for launch, he joins a growing list of astronauts with Indian roots helping shape the future of human space exploration.
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