Meet Anil Menon: Indian-origin Nasa astronaut set to liftoff on first 8-month ISS mission today; here’s what he will do in space

Published 14 July 2026 · science

PC: Nasa Who is Anil Menon: The doctor and military officer now heading to space Anil Menon's ISS mission: Launch date, crew, duration, research and

PC: Nasa Who is Anil Menon: The doctor and military officer now heading to space Anil Menon's ISS mission: Launch date, crew, duration, research and key details Mission Detail Information Mission Soyuz MS-29 Launch Date 14 July 2026 Launch Site Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan Launch Vehicle Russian Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft Launch Time 8:17 pm IST (10:47 am EDT) Destination International Space Station (ISS) Mission Duration Approximately 8 months ISS Expedition Expedition 74 and Expedition 75 Crew Members Anil Menon (NASA), Pyotr Dubrov (Roscosmos), Anna Kikina (Roscosmos) Primary Mission Conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations in microgravity Mission Goal Advance future human space exploration while supporting medical, manufacturing and biological research with applications on Earth How the Soyuz MS-29 mission will reach the International Space Station PC: Nasa The astronauts and cosmonauts already living aboard the ISS What research will Anil Menon carry out aboard the ISS The International Space Station is about to welcome a new crew as Nasa astronaut Anil Menon prepares for his first journey into orbit. The mission is scheduled to lift off today, that is, 14 July 2026, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard the Russian Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft, carrying Menon alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina.

After reaching orbit, the spacecraft is expected to complete a fast rendezvous with the station and dock a little over three hours after launch, at which point the trio will become part of the long-duration Expedition 74 and 75 crews.Reportedly, their stay is expected to last around 8 months, during which they will support a wide range of scientific investigations and technology demonstrations aimed at improving future human spaceflight while also contributing to research with practical uses on Earth.For Anil Menon, this mission marks the beginning of his career as a space traveller after years spent working in medicine, aerospace and military service.The 49-year-old was born in Minneapolis to parents of Indian and Ukrainian heritage. Before joining Nasa's astronaut corps, he built a varied career that combined emergency medicine with operational experience in demanding environments. As a physician, he treated patients both in hospitals and in remote mountain regions through the Himalayan Rescue Association, where he cared for climbers in the Everest region.His military background includes service as a colonel in the US Space Force, while earlier assignments with the US Air Force saw him deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Those experiences, spanning clinical medicine, aviation and extreme environments, eventually led him towards astronaut training.The Soyuz MS-29 mission marks Menon's first journey into space.