Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon set for first Space Station mission

Anil Menon (Image: NASA)

For Anil Menon, the dream of reaching space is becoming real. The NASA astronaut, who once treated emergencies on Earth, is now preparing for his first mission to the International Space Station.

Mission Details and Scientific Goals
NASA has officially assigned Menon to serve as a flight engineer for Expedition 75. He will launch aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft in June 2026. His crewmates will be Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina.

The trio will blast off from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome. They are set to spend around eight months working aboard the orbiting laboratory. Menon will carry out scientific experiments and test new technologies that support future space missions. His work is aimed at benefiting both space exploration and life on Earth.

Menon was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021 and graduated with the agency’s 23rd astronaut class in 2024. Since completing his astronaut candidate training, he has been preparing for this mission to the ISS.

A Journey from Medicine to Outer Space
Born and raised in Minneapolis, Menon comes from a diverse background. His parents are originally from India and Ukraine. A doctor, an engineer, and a colonel in the United States Space Force, Menon brings a wealth of experience to the mission.

His academic journey includes a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology from Harvard University. He also holds a master’s in mechanical engineering and a medical degree from Stanford University. Menon completed residencies in both emergency and aerospace medicine at Stanford and the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

Even today, Menon continues to practise emergency medicine at Memorial Hermann’s Texas Medical Center. He also mentors medical residents at the University of Texas’ residency programme.

Before joining NASA, Menon worked at SpaceX as the company’s first flight surgeon. He helped develop SpaceX’s medical programme and supported the launch of the first crewed Dragon mission, Demo-2. He also served as a crew flight surgeon for NASA’s space station missions and SpaceX’s flights.

A New Chapter in Human Spaceflight
The International Space Station has been home to astronauts for nearly 25 years. Crews aboard the ISS conduct research that advances science and improves life on Earth.

Menon’s mission supports NASA’s wider goals, including future missions to the Moon under the Artemis programme. The research also prepares for future human journeys to Mars and expands commercial ventures in low-Earth orbit.

For Menon, this mission is not just a career milestone. It is a step towards helping humanity reach further into space while improving life back on Earth.