NASA astronaut Anil Menon will go to space for the first time in June 2026. He will join the International Space Station as a flight engineer and be part of Expedition 75. NASA announced that he will launch on the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft with two Russian cosmonauts, Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina.

The crew will take off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and stay on the space station for about eight months.

Anil Menon Prepares For First Spaceflight

During the mission, Anil Menon will work on science experiments and test new technologies that support future space travel. His work will help NASA plan longer missions in space and improve life on Earth.

Menon started working with NASA in 2021 and finished his astronaut training in 2024. Since then, he has been getting ready for his first mission, learning the skills needed to live and work in space.

He is also a trained emergency medicine doctor, mechanical engineer, and a colonel in the U.S. Space Force. Menon was born in Minneapolis to Indian and Ukrainian parents. He brings both experience and diversity to NASA’s space program.

Anil Menon’s Background and Work

Anil Menon studied neurobiology at Harvard University. He also earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and a medical degree from Stanford University. He completed training in emergency and aerospace medicine at Stanford and the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Before joining NASA, Menon worked as SpaceX’s first flight surgeon. He helped launch the company’s first crewed space mission, Demo-2, and helped build SpaceX’s medical team. He also supported crews flying to the space station.

Even now, Menon continues to work as an emergency doctor at Texas Medical Center and teaches medical students at the University of Texas.

NASA says his mission will help make space travel safer and more useful for everyone. The space station plays a key role in learning how to live and work in space as NASA prepares for future Moon and Mars missions under the Artemis program.