Anil Menon, Indian-origin Nasa astronaut, set for an 8-month ISS mission: What will he do in space?

Anil Menon, an Indian-origin Nasa astronaut, is set to embark on his first mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on July 14. The journey is expected to last for eight months.

Alongside Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, Menon will lift off on his first mission to space aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Before returning to Earth in April 2027, the crew is slated to take part in Expeditions 74 and 75 aboard the orbiting laboratory.

But who is this Indian descent Menon, and what will he do in space? We take a look.

Who is Anil Menon?

Anil Menon was born in Minneapolis, a city in the US. His parents are Indian and Ukrainian immigrants. Menon is an emergency medicine physician by training. He has also worked as a colonel in the US Space Force.

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Indian-origin Nasa astronaut Anil Menon set for first space mission aboard Soyuz spacecraft

Earlier in his career, he also served in the US Air Force and was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Menon has been associated with the Himalayan Rescue Association, assisting climbers with medical care on Mount Everest.

Despite being born in the US, he maintained a strong connection with India. The Indian-origin Nasa astronaut spent a year in the country as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, where he studied polio immunisation programmes, according to reports.

In 2014, Menon joined Nasa as a flight surgeon. Menon's responsibilities required supporting the health and overall well-being of astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

Four years later, he joined SpaceX, where he built the company's medical programme, helped prepare for its first crewed missions, and contributed to the development of Starship, the next-generation launch system designed for missions to the Moon, Mars, and deep space.

Nasa selected Menon in December 2021 as an astronaut candidate. The following month, he commenced the agency's intensive two-year astronaut training programme.

Menon's wife's name is Anna Menon, previously known as Anna Wilhelm. Anna is also an astronaut. According to reports, in September 2024, she travelled to space on SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, a privately funded orbital mission that lasted for around five days.

What will Menon do in space?

During his stay in the space station, Menon will conduct a series of scientific investigations centred on understanding how prolonged space travel affects the human body.

His series of experiments will also include how microgravity influences blood flow, vein structure and blood composition. These findings are expected to support and help keep astronauts healthy during future missions beyond low Earth orbit.

Menon will also participate in tests of new technologies that can produce intravenous (IV) fluids using the station's potable water system. The innovation could play a significant role in future deep-space missions, where access to medical supplies will be limited.

Moreover, Menon is set to advance research on manufacturing semiconductor crystals in space.

His key objectives are advancing large-scale production of high-quality components for high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge medical technologies.

As part of the series of scientific experiments, he will also conduct ultrasound studies using augmented reality (AR) and AI technologies. With this, Menon will develop medical capabilities that could reduce the need for Earth-based assistance during future deep-space missions.

According to a report by Print, the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft is set to lift off at 10:47 am EDT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Upon launch, the spacecraft will make two orbits around Earth before docking.

With inputs from agencies