Meet Anil Menon, the next Indian-American set to go to space after Sunita Williams

Selected as part of Nasa's 23rd astronaut class in 2021, Menon graduated as an astronaut in 2024. Since then, he has been preparing intensively for his first spaceflight.

In Short

• Menon is a certified flight instructor with over 1,000 flying hours
• Menon has an extensive career in medicine and aerospace
• His Nasa journey began in 2014 as a flight surgeon

As Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla works and lives aboard the International Space Station, Nasa has selected astronaut Anil Menon for a space mission in 2026.

Nasa astronaut Anil Menon is set to become the next Indian-American to venture into space after Sunita Williams.

Scheduled to launch in June 2026, Menon will embark on his first mission to the International Space Station (ISS), serving as a flight engineer and Expedition 75 crew member.

Menon will launch aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. He will be accompanied by Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina.

The trio is expected to spend approximately eight months aboard the ISS, conducting scientific investigations and technology demonstrations. These experiments aim to advance human space exploration and generate benefits for life on Earth.

A Remarkable Journey to Nasa

Selected as part of Nasa’s 23rd astronaut class in 2021, Menon graduated as an astronaut in 2024. Since then, he has been preparing intensively for his first spaceflight.

His diverse background uniquely qualifies him for this role: Menon is an emergency medicine physician, mechanical engineer, and colonel in the United States Space Force.

Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Ukrainian and Indian immigrant parents, Menon’s academic credentials are impressive.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology from Harvard University, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, and a medical degree from Stanford University.

He completed residencies in emergency medicine and aerospace medicine and holds board certifications in both fields.

Professional and Personal Life

Menon has an extensive career in medicine and aerospace. He was SpaceX’s first flight surgeon, playing a critical role in launching the company’s first crewed Dragon spacecraft on Nasa’s Demo-2 mission.

He also helped build SpaceX’s medical support infrastructure for future human spaceflight. Despite his demanding career, Menon continues to practice emergency medicine at Memorial Hermann’s Texas Medical Center and teaches residents at the University of Texas.

Outside of his professional life, Menon is a certified flight instructor with over 1,000 flying hours and enjoys endurance races like Ironman and Kokoro. He is married to Anna Menon, who also works at SpaceX, and they have two children.

Menon’s Nasa journey began in 2014 as a flight surgeon supporting ISS crews and Soyuz missions. He has lived and worked in Star City, Russia, gaining invaluable experience in international space operations.

His research and clinical work have contributed over 20 scientific publications in emergency and space medicine.

As he prepares for his historic mission, Anil Menon stands as a shining example of dedication, expertise, and multicultural heritage, inspiring future generations of Indian-Americans and space enthusiasts worldwide.

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