NASA astronaut Dr Anil Menon, of Indian origin, is all set to embark on his first spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS) today, marking a milestone in his career and in global space exploration.
Menon will launch aboard the Soyuz MS‑29 spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, at 10:47 AM EDT (8:17 PM IST), alongside Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. The mission will be streamed live on NASA+ and YouTube, with coverage beginning at 9:45 AM EDT.
The mission, spanning approximately eight months (240 days), will include Expeditions 74 and 75. Menon will conduct experiments in biology, physics, and space technologies, focusing on human health in space and the implications of long‑duration spaceflight. His research will contribute to future missions planned for the Moon and Mars.
A physician, engineer, and former flight surgeon, Menon was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021. He previously served as SpaceX’s first flight surgeon and has played a key role in advancing space medicine. This mission represents his historic first journey to space, where he will help pave the way for sustained human presence beyond Earth.
