Indian-American Astronaut Anil Menon Set for First Space Mission to the ISS

Indian-American astronaut Anil Menon is preparing for his first mission to space as part of an upcoming expedition to the International Space Station (ISS). Menon is scheduled to launch on July 14 alongside fellow astronauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. The crew is expected to spend approximately 240 days in orbit, conducting scientific research and supporting operations aboard the ISS. NASA has announced that Menon will participate in media interactions on June 22 ahead of the mission.

Born to Indian and Ukrainian parents and raised as a US citizen, Anil Menon has an impressive academic and professional background. He earned a degree in Neurobiology from Harvard University and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Medicine from Stanford University. Before becoming an astronaut, Menon served as a NASA flight surgeon, emergency medicine physician, mechanical engineer, and US Space Force colonel. Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021, he completed his training in 2024 and is now ready to embark on his first journey into space.