Who is Anil Menon: Indian-Origin NASA Astronaut to Fly to ISS in 2026

Jul 02, 2025 Khushi Kumari

NASA’s Anil Menon, born to Indian and Ukrainian parents, is set for his first spaceflight in June 2026 aboard Soyuz MS‑29

[{"selector":"#anim-975248f9-5730-4203-b694-a542515e3065 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c9de3121-3a9b-4076-84c0-444f9641c877","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Menon will serve as a flight engineer on Expedition 75, launching alongside Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina

[{"selector":"#anim-dc55673f-d1c4-4c27-ae09-c6b603ded788 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91884105-1013-4e73-8d6f-5afbf8da0c2e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The crew will lift off from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, and spend around eight months aboard the International Space Station

[{"selector":"#anim-b7457584-04c2-4630-841b-deb2839e5e5e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.15948266250105%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b7d883d1-3ec2-4a67-be89-62d741b31c0f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Menon is an emergency medicine physician, mechanical engineer, and Colonel in the U.S. Space Force

[{"selector":"#anim-23cd3d5f-c23e-46c8-870e-73cedd4c1f31 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.838883421466298%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-82bccd53-1809-46b5-ab34-592e510b2456","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Selected in NASA’s 2021 astronaut class, he graduated with the 23rd class in 2024 and began preparing for his first space mission

[{"selector":"#anim-c1f95007-7163-42fd-bf42-4405a52bc4f3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.845432999477049%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2842ee9b-54b8-4afc-ad3f-867b01dfe72d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

He was SpaceX’s first flight surgeon, supporting the crewed Demo‑2 mission and building their medical program

[{"selector":"#anim-ad5e8886-f466-45d2-9f8e-a2b2bdadb54c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2652dce6-2e58-49dd-a634-c89b610b696d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Menon holds degrees from Harvard (neurobiology), and Stanford (mechanical engineering and medicine), with aerospace medicine training in Texas

[{"selector":"#anim-5ea7d4c1-eae8-4557-850d-7621b30b18ac [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-0.09765690987855087%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b8df6c1-3b93-4127-97a8-33b059a2b8e0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Born in Minneapolis to immigrant parents, he continues to practice emergency medicine and teach at Texas Medical Center

[{"selector":"#anim-dc30ef39-764a-4d3d-97f8-82fb729ffd86 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-29.85817295470325%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0e98487-0f32-43a1-850e-9d328e432077","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

His work in science and tech demonstrations on board will advance human space exploration and aid NASA’s Artemis goals

[{"selector":"#anim-1e3add66-f84e-417d-beba-0a8d850eaef5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.481472104354838%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-66a1f38e-16fc-4bd7-ab52-b2bc15f88325","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Read More Lights, Camera, Controversy: 29 Celebs Under ED Scanner UNESCO Removes 3 African Sites from “In Danger” List Earth Spins Faster: July 9, 2025 Sets Record for Shortest Day McDonald’s Revamps U.S. Menu with Global Favorites