Latest news with #AnilMenon
NDTV
03-07-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Anil Menon: NASA Astronaut To Fly To ISS On First Space Mission In 2026
Indian-origin astronaut Anil Menon has been assigned his first space mission by NASA. Mr Menon will serve as a flight engineer aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Expedition 75. The mission is scheduled for launch in June 2026 aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft, alongside Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. The crew will lift off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and is expected to spend approximately eight months aboard the ISS. During the expedition, Anil Menon will support critical scientific research and technology demonstrations designed to advance long-duration human spaceflight and benefit life on Earth. Who Is Anil Menon? Anil Menon was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Indian and Ukrainian immigrant parents. He graduated from Saint Paul Academy and Summit School in 1995. He earned a bachelor's degree in neurobiology from Harvard University in 1999. At Harvard, he conducted research on Huntington's disease and later spent a year in India as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar supporting polio vaccination efforts. Anil Menon earned engineering and medical degrees from Stanford, followed by residencies in emergency and aerospace medicine, and a Master's in Public Health from University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in 2012. During his training, Mr Menon joined the California Air National Guard, supported remote wilderness races and served as a first responder in major disasters including the Haiti and Nepal earthquakes. As part of Operation Enduring Freedom, he deployed to Afghanistan to provide emergency medical care. He was later transferred to the 173rd Fighter Wing, logging over 100 sorties in F-15s and transporting over 100 patients with the US Air Force's critical care air transport team. He joined NASA as a flight surgeon in 2014. In 2018, Anil Menon became SpaceX's first flight surgeon and helped launch the first crewed Dragon spacecraft during the Demo-2 mission. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021 and reported for duty in January 2022. He completed two years of astronaut training and graduated with NASA's 23rd astronaut class in 2024. Anil Menon continues to practice emergency medicine at Memorial Hermann's Texas Medical Center and teaches at the University of Texas. He is married to Anna Menon, a SpaceX employee, and they have two children. Anil Menon has received numerous awards, including the US Air Force Commendation Medal, NASA and SpaceX team awards, and multiple honours for academic and medical excellence.
Mint
03-07-2025
- Science
- Mint
Comet or asteroid? Unknown object speeding towards Earth leaves scientists puzzled
Scientists in Europe have detected what they believe could be the third known object from another star system to enter our solar system. The newly discovered space object, named A11pl3Z, was spotted by the European Space Agency (ESA) and is currently several hundred million miles away, near Jupiter. Though it appears to be travelling towards Earth, experts say there is no danger as it will pass nowhere near our planet and is expected to fly past Mars instead, The Mirror reported. At this stage, scientists are unsure whether A11pl3Z is a rocky asteroid or an icy comet, both of which are common in space. Its precise size and shape are still unknown, and further observations are underway to better understand the object's origins. NASA scientists are also monitoring its progress closely. Read | Who is Anil Menon? The NASA astronaut set for his first International Space Station mission in 2026 Astrophysicist Josep Trigo-Rodriguez, from the Institute of Space Sciences in Barcelona speaking with The Mirror said that the object's unusual speed and trajectory suggest it could be an interstellar visitor. Writing in The Conversation, Dr Trigo-Rodriguez explained, "There are certain aspects of its extended appearance that could point to it being a comet. However, this will need to be confirmed in the coming weeks as it moves deeper into the solar system." He also noted, "On the other hand, it is normal for an object subjected to the extremely low temperatures of interstellar space for millions of years to take longer than normal to 'wake up' from its slumber." Dr Trigo-Rodriguez estimates that the object measures around 40 kilometres (25 miles) across. Experts from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have confirmed through their Scout program at the Center for the Study of Minor Bodies (CNEOs) that there is no chance of the object striking Earth. According to their calculations, the closest it will come is about 284 million kilometres (roughly 176 million miles) away. If confirmed, A11pl3Z would be the third interstellar object recorded by astronomers. The first, named Oumuamua, was discovered in 2017 and initially classified as an asteroid before later being thought to be a comet. The second was 2I/Borisov, a comet detected in 2019, which also originated from beyond our solar system.
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
After Shubhanshu Shukla, NASA's Anil Menon gears up for Expedition-75
As ISRO's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla continues his Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), NASA astronaut Anil Menon is preparing for his first mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Menon will serve as a flight engineer and Expedition 75 crew member aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft, scheduled to lift off in June 2026. He will be joined by Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina for an eight-month stint aboard the ISS adding to the growing Indian footprint in space. The trio will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Once aboard the station, Menon will conduct a range of scientific investigations and technology demonstrations. Selected by NASA in 2021, Menon graduated with NASA's 23rd astronaut class in 2024. Born and raised in Minneapolis, he brings an impressive mix of skills to the table. He's an emergency medicine physician, mechanical engineer, and colonel in the U.S. Space Force. NASA Astro Class 23 The fly shape represents our class, 'the flies'. Twelve stars represent the candidates of class 23 and the UAE and US flags are both displayed. And of course the astronaut pose represents our faith in NASA's return to the moon while keeping an eye on Mars! — Anil Menon (@astro_anil) October 28, 2022 Menon also holds a bachelor's degree in neurobiology from Harvard University, a master's in mechanical engineering, and a medical degree from Stanford. He completed residencies in emergency and aerospace medicine at Stanford and the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. It was worth the wait !!! — Anil Menon (@astro_anil) September 15, 2024 Outside of spaceflights and experiments, Menon still practices emergency medicine at Memorial Hermann's Texas Medical Center and teaches at the University of Texas residency program. Before joining NASA, he was SpaceX's first flight surgeon, supporting the historic NASA-SpaceX Demo-2 mission. He also served as crew flight surgeon for multiple ISS missions. It is the 75th long-duration mission to the ISS, which is currently scheduled to launch in June 2026. The primary purpose of the ISS is to enable long-term exploration of space and provide benefits to people on Earth. Expedition 75 will likely contribute to this by conducting various scientific experiments and research projects.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Minneapolis astronaut headed to International Space Station
The Brief A Minneapolis astronaut has been tapped for an International Space Station mission. Dr. Anil Menon will launch in June 2026 for an eight-month trip. Menon was born and raised in Minneapolis and fell in love with space while attending St. Paul Academy. MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - An astronaut from Minneapolis is headed to the International Space Station, NASA announced this week. What we know Dr. Anil Menon, who was born and raised in Minneapolis, is slated to make his first mission to the International Space Station next year. What's next Menon will launch in June 2026 on the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft with Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. Menon will serve as a flight engineer and crew member. Menon is slated to spend about eight months at the ISS. The backstory Menon was born and raised in Minneapolis and became fascinated with space while attending St. Paul Academy as a child. Last year, Menon graduated from NASA's astronaut training, which made him eligible for trips to the ISS and the moon. Speaking with FOX 9 after graduation, Menon said he is most excited about the prospect of taking part in a mission to Mars. "Going to Mars for three years and with all the new conditions we discover, you're definitely going to need some medical help there and that means more learning and more that we can bring back to Earth," he said.
Khaleej Times
02-07-2025
- Science
- Khaleej Times
Nasa astronaut Anil Menon to embark on first mission to International Space Station
Nasa astronaut Anil Menon has been assigned his first mission to the International Space Station, serving as a flight engineer and Expedition 75 crew member, Nasa said in its official statement. 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 programme. 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 organisation 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.
