he supported astronauts aboard the ISS
Dr Anil Menon is preparing to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) for the first time, marking the latest milestone in a career that has combined medicine, engineering and human space exploration.
The NASA astronaut is scheduled to launch aboard Russia’s Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft on July 14 for an eight-month mission as part of Expedition 75.
He will travel alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina.
The mission has drawn attention in Kerala because of Menon’s family connection to Palakkad district.
His father, Shankaran Menon, has roots in Ottapalam, Kerala, while his mother Elizabeth Samoilenko is from Ukraine.
Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dr Anil Menon grew up in a family shaped by different cultures before building a career at the intersection of healthcare, technology and spaceflight.
His journey towards becoming an astronaut began with a strong academic foundation.
He studied neurobiology at Harvard University before completing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and a medical degree at Stanford University.
Menon later specialised in emergency medicine and aerospace medicine, developing expertise in human health in challenging environments.
Before being selected as an astronaut, Menon spent years supporting missions that helped others reach space.
He joined NASA as a flight surgeon in 2014, where he supported astronauts aboard the ISS and helped manage medical aspects of human spaceflight.
In 2018, Menon joined SpaceX and helped establish the company’s medical programme.
He later served as lead flight surgeon for SpaceX’s first crewed missions, supporting the astronauts involved in the company’s early human spaceflight efforts.
NASA selected Menon as part of its 2021 Astronaut Candidate Class, and he began training in 2022.
His experience also extends beyond space exploration.
Menon has served as a US Air Force flight surgeon, supported combat operations in Afghanistan and worked in extreme environments, including providing medical support for climbers near Mount Everest.
He has also taken part in humanitarian work, including medical support efforts following earthquakes in Haiti and Nepal.
During his upcoming ISS mission, Menon will contribute to research examining how the human body adapts to long-duration spaceflight.
His work will include studying changes in blood circulation, veins and blood composition in microgravity.
Menon will also test technology designed to produce intravenous fluids from the ISS drinking water system and support medical research involving ultrasound, artificial intelligence and augmented reality.
The experiments will contribute to research aimed at preparing humans for future missions beyond low Earth orbit, including potential journeys to the Moon and Mars.
Space exploration is also part of Menon’s family story.
His wife, Anna Menon, is a SpaceX engineer and astronaut who participated in the Polaris Dawn private space mission in 2024.
The mission made history by completing the first commercial spacewalk, with Anna serving as mission specialist and medical officer.
The couple, who have two children, represent a rare astronaut family where both partners have been involved in human spaceflight.
Menon also shares a close friendship with Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, one of India’s Gaganyaan astronaut-designates.
The pair trained together in Houston and developed a strong connection through their shared experiences preparing for space missions.
From his family roots in Palakkad to his upcoming journey aboard the ISS, Dr Anil Menon’s career reflects the growing role of doctors, engineers and scientists in modern space exploration.
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