Indian-American Anil Menon’s space mission begins with a journey to the International Space Station
"I feel proud to be flying to the International Space Station today to serve the United States Space Force and to support NASA and our international partners! In another post prior to the mission, he said: "I am excited to launch from Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz MS-29 and begin an eight-month mission supporting NASA and 'Expedition 74/75.' I am grateful to the NASA community, friends, family, and loved ones, and I am excited for the day ahead."
WASHINGTON:- Indian-American Anil Menon began his journey to the International Space Station (ISS) on July 14 aboard Russia’s ‘Soyuz MS-29’ spacecraft. This marks his first spaceflight as part of an eight-month mission focused on scientific research and technology demonstration.
The Soyuz spacecraft lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 10:47 a.m. EDT (7:47 p.m. Baikonur time). On board the spacecraft were Menon, along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. Shortly after launch, the spacecraft reached orbit and, following a journey of approximately three hours (completing two orbits), automatically docked with the ISS’s ‘Prichal’ module at 1:52 p.m. EDT.
Before launching, Menon wrote on social media: “I feel proud to be flying to the International Space Station today to serve the United States Space Force and to support NASA and our international partners!”
In another post prior to the mission, he said: “I am excited to launch from Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz MS-29 and begin an eight-month mission supporting NASA and ‘Expedition 74/75.’ I am grateful to the NASA community, friends, family, and loved ones, and I am excited for the day ahead.”
NASA has stated that the newly arrived crew will spend approximately eight months at the orbiting laboratory before returning to Earth in April 2027.
This is Menon’s first trip to space, while it is the second spaceflight for both Dubrov and Kikina.
Upon arriving at the station, they joined NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, and Chris Williams; European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot; and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Mikaev, and Andrey Fedyaev as members of Expedition 74/75.
During his stay on the ISS, Menon will conduct a series of scientific research and technology demonstrations designed to support future human space exploration while providing benefits to Earth, NASA said.
According to NASA, his work will involve research to refine the space-based production of semiconductor crystals, which could enable the mass manufacturing of components for high-performance computers, artificial intelligence systems, and improved medical devices.
They will also perform ultrasounds using augmented reality and artificial intelligence methods, which could reduce the need for medical assistance from Earth during future deep-space missions.
NASA has stated that Menon will serve as a test subject in a study examining how blood flow changes in space—research aimed at protecting astronauts during future long-duration missions. He will also test the bioprinting of vascular structures in microgravity to improve understanding of the aging process and advance medical developments.
