NASA astronaut Anil Menon assigned to first space station mission

NASA astronaut Anil Menon will launch on his first mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as a flight engineer and Expedition 75 crew member in June 2026. Menon will fly aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft along with cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, departing from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The crew will spend approximately eight months aboard the ISS, engaging in scientific investigations and technology demonstrations aimed at preparing for future space missions. This work will contribute to advancements benefiting humanity.

Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021, Menon completed his astronaut training and is now preparing for this flight assignment. He holds degrees in neurobiology, mechanical engineering, and medicine, and serves as a colonel in the United States Space Force. Menon continues to practice emergency medicine and teaches at the University of Texas as part of his professional pursuits.

NASA's commitment to continuous research aboard the ISS spans nearly 25 years, focusing on critical scientific inquiries that support future human spaceflight initiatives, including missions to the Moon and Mars under the Artemis program. These efforts aim to broaden commercial opportunities in LEO Constellation (Low Earth Orbit) (LEO) and beyond.