Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon to embark on first International Space Station mission
According to NASA, Menon will launch aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft in June 2026, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. After launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the trio will spend approximately eight months aboard the orbiting laboratory.
During his expedition, Menon will conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations to help prepare humans for future space missions and benefit humanity.
Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021, Menon graduated with the 23rd astronaut class in 2024. After completing initial astronaut candidate training, he began preparing for his first space station flight assignment.
Menon was born and raised in Minneapolis and is an emergency medicine physician, mechanical engineer, and colonel in the United States Space Force. He was born to Indian and Ukrainian parents, the NASA statement added.
Menon holds a bachelor's degree in neurobiology from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a master's degree in mechanical engineering, and a medical degree from Stanford University in California. Menon completed his emergency medicine and aerospace medicine residency at Stanford and the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.
In his spare time, he still practices emergency medicine at Memorial Hermann's Texas Medical Center and teaches residents at the University of Texas' residency program. Menon served as SpaceX's first flight surgeon, helping to launch the first crewed Dragon spacecraft on NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 mission and building SpaceX's medical organization to support humans on future missions. He served as a crew flight surgeon for both SpaceX flights and NASA expeditions aboard the space station.
For nearly 25 years, people have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and conducting critical research for the benefit of humanity and our home planet. Space station research supports the future of human spaceflight as NASA looks toward deep space missions to the Moon under the Artemis campaign and in preparation for future human missions to Mars, as well as expanding commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit and beyond.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
Earthquake of magnitude 3.5 hits Nepal
ANI Earthquake in Nepal (File Photo) An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 hit Nepal on Sunday morning, as reported by the National Center of Seismology (NCS). As per the NCS, the earthquake occurred at 8:21 AM Indian Standard Time (IST). It struck at a depth of 10 kilometres on 27.70 N Latitude and 87.76 Longitude. The NCS wrote, "EQ of M: 3.5, On: 06/07/2025 08:21:30 IST, Lat: 27.70 N, Long: 87.76 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Nepal." EQ of M: 3.5, On: 06/07/2025 08:21:30 IST, Lat: 27.70 N, Long: 87.76 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Nepal. For more information Download the BhooKamp App @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia - National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) July 6, 2025 Earlier on June 29, an earthquake of magnitude 4.2 had struck Nepal, as reported by the NCS. There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage. Further details are awaited. Shallow earthquakes are more dangerous than deeper ones due to their greater energy release closer to the Earth's surface, causing stronger ground shaking and increased damage to structures and casualties, compared to deeper earthquakes, which lose energy as they travel to the is highly earthquake-prone due to its location on a convergent boundary where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide. This collision generates immense pressure and stress, which is released as earthquakes. Nepal is also situated in a subduction zone where the Indian Plate is sliding beneath the Eurasian Plate, further increasing stress and strain. Nepal lies in the Himalayan region, a zone of intense seismic activity caused by the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. This collision results in the Indian plate pushing beneath the Eurasian plate in a process called subduction, creating immense pressure and strain on the Earth's crust. The subduction zone further amplifies the stress, making Nepal highly vulnerable to earthquakes. The collision also contributes to the uplift of the Himalayan mountains, adding to the overall seismic activity in the region. Nepal has a long history of earthquakes, including devastating events like the 2015 earthquake.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
India's $70 Million Ticket To Space Redefines A Global Collaboration
With India's nearly $70 million investment leap, Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's space mission ignites global space commerce. In a landmark moment for India's space ambitions, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a commercial spaceflight mission organized by Axiom Space. This mission, known as Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), marks India's first paid seat on a private astronaut mission, signalling a new era of international cooperation and commercial engagement in human spaceflight. Super simplified it is a glorified shared Uber taxi ride with Hungary and Poland also sharing the costs. India's participation in Ax-4 is the result of a nearly $70 million investment, a strategic move that allows the country to gain first-hand experience in human spaceflight operations ahead of its own Gaganyaan mission. The mission was borne by Axiom Space seeking to sell a seat to ISRO, followed by a bilateral agreement between the Indian and US governments, with the intent to deepen space collaboration and accelerate India's capabilities in crewed missions. The Ax-4 mission is a complex orchestration of multiple entities. Axiom Space, a private US company aiming to build its own commercial space station, won NASA's tender to operate private astronaut missions. Axiom does not own a launch vehicle, so it partnered with SpaceX, which provided the Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule, now named Grace. The mission was certified and overseen by NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and coordinated with the international consortium that manages the ISS. This intricate framework-described by aerospace engineer and space entrepreneur George Winemann as "G2-B2-B2-G"-involves government-to-business (India to Axiom), business-to-business (Axiom to SpaceX), and business-to-government (SpaceX to NASA and ISS partners) interactions. According to Winemann, the success of this model demonstrates the growing maturity of commercial spaceflight and the ability of diverse stakeholders to collaborate effectively despite regulatory and operational complexities. George Winemann, aerospace engineer and space entrepreneur The mission faced several technical challenges, including delays due to weather, oxidizer leaks, and docking issues at the ISS. However, these hiccups were resolved through coordinated efforts among all parties. Winemann emphasized that the decorum and responsiveness shown by SpaceX and Axiom in addressing ISRO's heightened concerns, where at one stage ISRO threatened to withdraw its astronaut from the Axiom-4 mission were exemplary, especially given the constraints imposed by US export control laws like International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). For India, the mission is not just symbolic but deeply practical. ISRO has used the opportunity to conduct microgravity experiments aboard the ISS, with seven Indian research proposals selected for execution. These experiments span areas such as biomedical science, material physics, and space agriculture, contributing to a broader pool of 60 studies from 31 countries. The presence of Group Captain Shukla on the ISS also marks a diplomatic milestone. It reflects India's emergence as a credible space power and its ability to engage in high-level international partnerships. The mission has been dubbed "Mission Akash Ganga" in India, echoing the country's cultural and scientific aspirations in space. Winemann noted that the mission's success is a testament to the power of communication and trust. Despite the challenges and hiccups involvement of multiple governments and private entities, the stakeholders managed to align their priorities and execute the mission smoothly. He also highlighted the role of India's newly formed space promotion agency, InSpace, in facilitating private sector participation and international collaboration. Looking ahead, the Ax-4 mission sets a precedent for future commercial spaceflights involving emerging space nations. It demonstrates that with the right framework, countries can access the ISS and other orbital platforms without being formal partners in the consortium. This opens the door for broader participation in space research, technology development, and even commercial ventures such as manufacturing and biopharma in microgravity. The mission also reinforces the strategic importance of space diplomacy. With India and the US continuing to strengthen their space ties, including upcoming collaborations like the NISAR satellite launch, the Ax-4 mission serves as a blueprint for how commercial and governmental entities can work together to achieve shared goals. India's participation in Axiom Mission 4 is a bold and successful step into the realm of commercial human spaceflight. It showcases the country's readiness to engage with global space leaders, leverage private sector capabilities, and contribute meaningfully to the future of space exploration. As Group Captain Shukla continues his work aboard the ISS, the mission stands as a powerful symbol of what can be achieved through innovation, diplomacy, and collaboration, since space unifies nations as the perch of space shows no national boundaries to astronauts like Group Captain Shukla. Now, a whole new commercialisation of the low Earth orbit is being paved by India's first foray into the space station. Group Captain Shukla, literally, opened the doors to increased commerce in space.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Red 'sprite' in space: Nasa astronaut shares elusive atmospheric phenomena; aids TLE research
Sprite captured by Nichole Ayers (Image credits: X @Astro_Ayers) While orbiting high above North America, NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers captured a rare sight- glowing red lights shimmering in Earth's upper atmosphere. The phenomenon, known as a Transient Luminous Event (TLE) or "sprite," appeared as a brief burst of red light above thunderstorms over Mexico and the United States. The rare phenomenon, known as a Transient Luminous Event (TLE), is called a sprite- a brief flash of red light that occurs high above powerful thunderstorms. These massive bursts of electrical energy can reach up to 100 kilometers above Earth's surface and consist of 'cold plasma,' more like the glow inside a fluorescent light tube than typical lightning. Due to their high altitude and short duration, sprites are rarely visible from the ground, making Ayers' space-based capture especially significant. Sharing the image on X, Ayers said, 'Just. Wow. As we went over Mexico and the U.S. this morning, I caught this sprite.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo 'Sprites are TLEs or Transient Luminous Events, that happen above the clouds and are triggered by intense electrical activity in the thunderstorms below,' she explained. Sprites have long fascinated scientists and pilots. These brief, jellyfish-shaped flashes shoot upward into the atmosphere and vanish in milliseconds. For nearly a century, pilots reported seeing them, but many scientists dismissed them as myths or optical illusions. That changed in 1989 when the first clear image of a sprite was accidentally captured on camera. According to Nasa, sprites occur when strong lightning discharges interact with Earth's ionosphere. As the discharge travels upward and hits nitrogen molecules, it produces a reddish glow. Sprites belong to a larger group of upper-atmosphere phenomena that includes blue jets and red elves. Users were both amazed and curious after seeing the post. One wrote,'Sprite.... one of the rarest of rare celestial phenomenon .' Another asked, 'How long do the sprites last? Is this a still shot taken from a video? What altitude did this one reach? The more we find out, it becomes obvious we know far less than we thought.'
