NASA astronaut Anil Menon is all set for his first mission to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft along with cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina,. It will be a historic moment as the first astronaut with Kerala roots to travel to space. Leaving the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, July 14, the team will join the Expedition 74 crew and spend around eight months in the orbital complex before returning in April 2027.
He will reportedly spend about eight months in space conducting important research on human health and other scientific topics.
"A truly historic milestone for Keralam. Heartiest congratulations to #DrAnilMenon," wrote Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan. "His mission to conduct pioneering research on semiconductor crystals and medicine is a true testament to human excellence. The entire Malayali community stands together in extending our collective prayers and best wishes for a safe and successful mission," the CM added.
Who is Anil Menon?
Born in 1976 to a Ukrainian mother and an Indian father, Dr Anil Menon was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. However, Menon traces his paternal heritage back to Ottapalam in Kerala, mentioning the important role it plays in his identity.
Before becoming an astronaut, 49-year-old Menon dabbled in various fields, working within military service, science and medicine. He holds degrees in neurobiology and mechanical engineering, and is also trained in emergency medicine. He served as NASA’s flight surgeon in 2014, supporting astronauts on long missions to the ISS before joining SpaceX as their first flight surgeon, where he helped launch people for the Demo-2 mission. He notably served as a first responder in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti and 2015 Nepal earthquakes.
“If I’m the first Malayali to reach space, I’ll be proud to say I won’t be the last. Gp Capt Prasanth ‘Papa’ Nair, who hails from the same town as my family, will be next. Kerala will be well represented up there,” he told the New Indian Express.
On this mission, Menon is to focus on scientific and technological research, including testing microgravity’s effects on blood flow and understanding the ageing process in space, among other tasks.
His wife, Anna Menon, is also a lead SpaceX engineer who previously flew on the Polaris Dawn mission. Outside of his work, he is a certified flight instructor and an endurance athlete.
