Indian-origin astronaut Dr. Anil Menon is set to embark on his maiden journey to space as part of NASA’s Expedition 75 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the U.S. space agency announced on Tuesday. The mission is scheduled for launch around June 2026.
According to NASA, Menon will travel aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft, alongside Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. The spacecraft will lift off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Once aboard the ISS, the trio is expected to spend approximately eight months conducting scientific research and supporting space station operations.
Menon, who currently serves as a flight engineer at NASA, was selected as an astronaut in 2021 and completed three years of intensive training before graduating with NASA’s 23rd astronaut class.
Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Menon brings a unique background to spaceflight. He is both a mechanical engineer and a board-certified emergency medicine physician. In addition to his role at NASA, he holds the rank of colonel in the United States Space Force. Despite his demanding schedule, Menon continues to practice emergency medicine at Memorial Hermann’s Texas Medical Center and mentors young doctors through the University of Texas residency program.
His contributions to space medicine are notable. He joined NASA in 2014 as a flight surgeon and has supported several long-duration missions to the ISS, including Soyuz 39, 43, and 52. Menon was also the first flight surgeon at SpaceX, playing a critical role in launching the company’s first crewed mission—NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2—and establishing its medical infrastructure for human spaceflight.
Expedition 75 is part of NASA’s ongoing efforts to advance scientific research in microgravity and expand human presence in space. With Menon on board, the mission reflects the increasing diversity and multidisciplinary talent driving modern space exploration.
This upcoming journey marks a significant milestone in Menon’s career and highlights the growing contributions of Indian-origin professionals to global space programs.