NASA astronaut Dr Anil Menon will soar into space aboard the Soyuz MS-29 mission in June 2026, marking his inaugural journey to the International Space Station (ISS). Aboard the Russian spacecraft launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Menon will serve as a flight engineer and Expedition 75 crew member for an eight-month expedition that aims to push the boundaries of human knowledge and technological innovation in microgravity.
Menon will be joined by veteran Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov and trailblazing cosmonaut Anna Kikina, in a mission that underscores the continued collaboration between NASA and Russia’s space agency despite geopolitical complexities.
Who is Anil Menon?
Dr. Anil Menon, an Indian-origin American astronaut, continues to make headlines as one of NASA’s most promising spacefarers. Born on October 15, 1976, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Indian and Ukrainian parents, Menon’s remarkable journey from medicine to space exploration is a story of dedication, intellect, and service.
Dr. Menon holds a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology from Harvard University, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, and a medical degree from Stanford University. He further specialized in emergency and aerospace medicine, completing residencies at both Stanford and the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.
Before his selection to NASA, Menon served as SpaceX’s first flight surgeon, where he played a key role in the NASA-SpaceX Demo-2 mission—the historic first crewed flight of the Dragon spacecraft. He was instrumental in establishing SpaceX’s medical infrastructure to support human spaceflight, positioning the company for future deep-space missions.
Selected in 2021 as part of NASA’s elite 23rd astronaut class and graduating in 2024, Menon brings an extraordinary blend of scientific acumen, medical expertise, and aerospace experience. A colonel in the United States Space Force, Menon is an emergency medicine physician, mechanical engineer, and a seasoned aerospace medicine specialist who played a vital behind-the-scenes role in some of the most critical human spaceflight missions of the last decade.
His upcoming expedition to the ISS is not merely symbolic it is purpose-driven. Menon will conduct advanced scientific investigations and technology demonstrations vital to NASA’s long-term ambitions for interplanetary travel. These include research projects aimed at understanding human physiological responses in prolonged spaceflight, testing advanced life support systems, and contributing to new technologies that can benefit medical care and sustainability back on Earth.
For Menon, the mission is the culmination of a multi-disciplinary career grounded in service and innovation. Born and raised in Minneapolis, he earned a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology from Harvard University, followed by a master’s in mechanical engineering and a medical degree from Stanford University. His residency in emergency and aerospace medicine at Stanford and the University of Texas Medical Branch laid the foundation for his unique intersectional skill set one that NASA is now sending into orbit.
Even as he trained for spaceflight, Menon remained dedicated to practicing emergency medicine at Memorial Hermann’s Texas Medical Center and mentoring residents through the University of Texas residency program. His contributions to space medicine are already etched in recent history he served as SpaceX’s first flight surgeon, played a pivotal role in the launch of the first crewed Dragon spacecraft during the NASA-SpaceX Demo-2 mission, and helped shape SpaceX’s internal medical support infrastructure for future human missions.
This milestone comes at a pivotal moment in NASA’s long-term exploration strategy. With over 25 years of continuous human presence aboard the ISS, the orbiting laboratory has become a crucible for discoveries that fuel deep-space exploration.
Under NASA’s Artemis campaign, astronauts are preparing for sustainable missions to the Moon and eventually Mars. Menon’s mission feeds directly into this grand vision, providing essential data and testing technologies that will help pave the way for humanity’s next giant leap.
Moreover, his mission highlights the evolving landscape of international cooperation and commercial participation in space. As NASA works to expand low Earth orbit opportunities for commercial partners, astronauts like Menon are vital emissaries for science diplomacy and human progress beyond Earth.
In an era where space exploration is increasingly multi-domain and multi-national, Anil Menon’s mission represents not just personal triumph, but a leap forward for global scientific endeavor, aerospace medicine, and the future of human spaceflight.
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