Houston/New Delhi: NASA astronaut Dr Anil Menon, a physician, engineer and US Air Force lieutenant colonel with family roots in Kerala, is set to create history as he embarks on his first mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Scheduled to launch aboard Russia’s Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft on July 15, Menon will spend approximately eight months in space as part of Expedition 75, conducting scientific research and medical experiments aimed at supporting the future of long-duration human spaceflight.
The mission marks a significant milestone not only for NASA but also for India, particularly Kerala, as Menon becomes the first astronaut with roots in the state to travel into space. He will be accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina on the journey to the orbiting laboratory.
Dr Menon’s family traces its roots to Ottapalam in Kerala’s Palakkad district, a region that has now emerged as a unique hub of space exploration. Alongside Menon, Palakkad is linked to Anna Menon, the SpaceX engineer and private astronaut who participated in the landmark Polaris Dawn mission in 2024, and Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, one of India’s Gaganyaan astronaut-designates. The district’s association with three astronauts has become a matter of immense pride for the state, which also holds a historic place in India’s space programme through the early launch activities at ISRO’s Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station.
Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dr Menon is the son of Indian and Ukrainian immigrants. His father, Shankaran Menon, belongs to Kerala, while his mother, Elizabeth Samoilenko, is of Ukrainian origin. Over the years, Menon has built an exceptional career by combining expertise in medicine, engineering and aerospace science.
His academic journey began with a degree in neurobiology from Harvard University, followed by a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and a medical degree from Stanford University. He later specialised in emergency medicine and aerospace medicine, laying the foundation for a career focused on advancing human health in extreme environments.
Before earning his place among NASA astronauts, Menon played a crucial role in supporting human spaceflight as a NASA flight surgeon. Joining the agency in 2014, he worked closely with astronauts assigned to the International Space Station. In 2018, he joined SpaceX, where he helped establish the company’s medical programme and served as the lead flight surgeon for its first crewed missions.
His experience extends beyond the space sector. As a US Air Force flight surgeon, Menon supported combat operations in Afghanistan and also worked in high-altitude medical environments near Mount Everest. Additionally, he participated in humanitarian missions that provided medical assistance following devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Nepal.
NASA selected Menon as part of its prestigious 2021 Astronaut Candidate Class, and he officially began astronaut training in 2022. His upcoming flight to the ISS represents the culmination of years of preparation and service in medicine and aerospace operations.
During the eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station, Dr Menon will participate in a broad range of scientific investigations designed to improve understanding of the effects of long-duration space travel on the human body. His research will examine blood circulation, vein function and changes in blood composition under microgravity conditions.
Another major objective of the mission involves testing innovative technology capable of producing intravenous fluids from the ISS drinking water system, a development that could prove invaluable during future deep-space expeditions. Menon will also contribute to medical studies using ultrasound imaging, artificial intelligence and augmented reality, while supporting experiments intended to prepare astronauts for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, space exploration is a shared passion within the Menon family. His wife, Anna Menon, is a SpaceX engineer and astronaut who flew on the Polaris Dawn private space mission in 2024. The mission achieved global recognition after conducting the world’s first commercial spacewalk, with Anna serving as both mission specialist and medical officer. Together, the couple, who have two children, form one of the rare astronaut families in which both spouses have travelled and are preparing to travel beyond Earth.
Dr Menon also shares a close friendship with Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, one of India’s Gaganyaan astronaut-designates. The two trained together in Houston, and Nair has described Menon’s upcoming mission as an emotional and proud moment that strengthens the connection between India, Kerala and the global space community.
As the countdown begins for the launch of Soyuz MS-29, anticipation continues to build in Kerala and among the Indian diaspora worldwide. Dr Anil Menon’s journey from his family’s roots in Palakkad to the International Space Station stands as an inspiring example of dedication, scientific excellence and international collaboration. His mission is expected to contribute valuable scientific knowledge that will help shape the future of human space exploration while bringing immense pride to both NASA and India’s growing legacy in space science.
