Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon lifted off aboard Russia’s Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft on Tuesday, embarking on his first mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina for an eight-month expedition in orbit.
During the mission, Menon will lead and support several scientific experiments focused on understanding the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body. His research will examine how microgravity influences blood flow, vein structure and blood composition. He will also help test technology capable of producing intravenous fluids using the ISS’s potable water system—an innovation that could prove crucial for future deep-space missions where medical supplies are limited.
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Who is Anil Menon?
Anil Menon was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Indian and Ukrainian immigrant parents. He is married to fellow aerospace professional Anna Menon, and the couple have two children.
A physician, engineer and pilot, Menon has built a distinguished career spanning medicine, aerospace engineering and human spaceflight. He earned degrees in neurobiology, mechanical engineering and medicine before specialising in emergency and aerospace medicine. He has also served as a certified flight instructor and has logged more than 1,000 flying hours.
Before joining NASA, Menon worked with SpaceX as its first flight surgeon, helping establish the company’s medical programme for human spaceflight. In that role, he played a key part in supporting the launch of NASA astronauts aboard Crew Dragon missions and contributed to the development of medical systems for future exploration.
NASA selected Menon as an astronaut in 2021, and he completed rigorous astronaut training before receiving his first spaceflight assignment. His expertise in medicine and engineering makes him well-suited to conduct research aimed at improving astronaut health during extended missions.
Menon’s debut mission to the ISS is expected to contribute valuable insights that will support NASA’s plans for future lunar expeditions and eventual human missions to Mars.
