Indian-origin astronaut Anil Menon is all set for his first space mission to International Space Station in June, 2026, Nasa said in a statement.“Nasa astronaut Anil Menon will embark on his first mission to the International Space Station, serving as a flight engineer and Expedition 75 crew member,” it said.“Menon will launch aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft in June 2026, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. After launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the trio will spend approximately eight months aboard the orbiting laboratory,” it added.During his mission, Menon will carry out scientific research and test new technologies aimed at advancing human space exploration and contributing to the well-being of humanity.
Who is Anil Menon?
Menon grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of immigrants from Ukraine and India. A certified flight instructor, Menon has accumulated more than 1,000 hours of flight time and enjoys teaching general aviation.Menon completed his early education at Saint Paul Academy and Summit School in Saint Paul, Minnesota, graduating in 1995. He earned a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology from Harvard University in 1999, followed by a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University in 2004. He went on to receive his medical degree from Stanford Medical School in 2006 and completed his residency in emergency medicine at Stanford in 2009, along with a fellowship in wilderness medicine in 2010. Continuing his specialized training, Menon completed a residency in aerospace medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston in 2012, where he also earned a master’s degree in public health that same year. He currently holds board certifications in both aerospace medicine and emergency medicine.Menon began working as a Nasa flight surgeon in 2014. In this role, he provided medical support for four long-duration astronauts aboard the International Space Station, serving as deputy crew surgeon for Soyuz 39 and Soyuz 43 missions, and as the primary crew surgeon for Soyuz 52. Within the human health and performance directorate, he also led efforts on the health maintenance system and helped develop the direct return aircraft. His duties took him to Star City, Russia, where he lived and worked for over six months, the space agency’s website said.
