Meet Anil Menon : NASA’s Indian-Origin Astronaut Set for 2026 ISS Mission

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Who is Anil Menon?

Anil Menon, born in the US in 1976, is a US Air Force lieutenant colonel, emergency physician and former NASA flight surgeon who supported several ISS missions and later became SpaceX’s medical director.

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First Space Mission

Anil Menon will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2026 as a flight engineer for Expedition 75. This marks his first space mission, following the completion of his astronaut training in March 2024.

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Launch Details Out

Menon is scheduled to launch aboard Russia’s Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft in June 2026, alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. The crew will lift off from Kazakhstan and spend around eight months aboard the ISS.

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Mission Objectives

During his mission, Menon will conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations designed to advance human space exploration and support innovations that can improve life on Earth. His work will contribute to both science and society.

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Menon Education

Menon earned a bachelor's degree in neurobiology from Harvard University, followed by a master’s in mechanical engineering and a medical degree from Stanford. His academic journey blends science, engineering and medicine with a focus on spaceflight.

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Aerospace Medicine Training

Menon also trained in both emergency and aerospace medicine at Stanford and the University of Texas. He also wrote a thesis on medical kits for space travel, focusing on how to keep astronauts healthy during missions.

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SpaceX Flight

Menon was SpaceX’s first flight surgeon and helped launch the first crewed Dragon mission during NASA’s Demo-2 flight. He still practises emergency medicine and mentors medical residents at the University of Texas.

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Menon's NASA Role

Menon also supported both NASA and SpaceX missions as a flight surgeon and helped build SpaceX’s medical system for human spaceflight. Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021, he completed his training in 2024 with the 23rd class.

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