Indian-Origin Astronaut Anil Menon to Join Expedition 75 on ISS Mission in 2026

Anil Menon: Indian-Origin Astronaut Gears Up for ISS Mission in 2026

Indian-origin astronaut Anil Menon is preparing for his inaugural space mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2026, according to a recent statement from NASA.

"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," the statement read.

Menon will launch aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft in June 2026, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. The trio will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and spend approximately eight months aboard the orbiting laboratory.

During his mission, Menon will conduct scientific research and test new technologies designed to advance human space exploration and contribute to humanity's well-being.

Anil Menon's Background

Menon, the son of immigrants from Ukraine and India, grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A certified flight instructor, he has accumulated over 1,000 hours of flight time and enjoys teaching general aviation.

• Education: Menon graduated from Saint Paul Academy and Summit School in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1995.
• Higher Education: 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.
• Medical Career: He received 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.

Menon continued his specialized training with 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 is currently board certified in both aerospace medicine and emergency medicine.

Menon began his career as a NASA flight surgeon in 2014. 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. According to NASA's website, his duties took him to Star City, Russia, where he lived and worked for over six months.