Houston, Texas, USA: Indian-American astronaut Anil Menon is preparing for his first space mission, scheduled to launch on July 14. NASA announced that Menon will travel alongside fellow astronauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina as part of an international crew assigned to a long-duration orbital mission.

The crew is expected to spend approximately 240 days in space. Ahead of the mission, NASA said Anil Menon will participate in an interview session on June 22 to discuss preparations and mission objectives.

Born to Indian and Ukrainian parents, Menon is a U.S. citizen with an accomplished academic and professional background. He earned a bachelor's degree in neurobiology from Harvard University and later obtained master's degrees in mechanical engineering and medicine from Stanford University.

In addition to being an astronaut, Menon is an emergency medicine physician, mechanical engineer, and a colonel in the U.S. Space Force.

Before joining NASA's astronaut corps, he served as a flight surgeon supporting missions to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA selected Menon as part of its astronaut candidate class in 2021. Following two years of intensive training, he graduated as an astronaut in 2024 and has since been preparing for his first journey into orbit.

The upcoming mission marks a significant milestone in Menon's career as he joins the growing list of astronauts of Indian origin contributing to international space exploration.