Indian-descent NASA astronaut, Dr Anil Menon is currently grabbing all attention due to his upcoming big career milestone. He is officially set to launch an eight-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on July 14, 2026 from Kazakhstan. Notably, it will be the first spaceflight for the 49-year-old Indian-American emergency medicine physician and US Space Force colonel.
For the mission, Anil will be aboard Russia’s Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft, which will launch from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome. He will be accompanied by Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina in the eight-month mission. The core aim of the mission will be to examine how microgravity impacts blood flow, vein structures, and blood composition. Ahead of the crucial task, here’s a look at Anil’s support system, his wife, Anna Menon and their kids.
Inside Anil Menon and Anna Menon’s love story and kids
Anil and Anna first met during his initial tenure as a NASA flight surgeon, where she was working as a biomedical flight controller. Just three days after meeting outside of work, they found themselves “sitting side by side in a tense mission control simulation,” as per Anna. While working under immense pressure, the duo found love and solace in each other. After dating for a while, they tied the knot on October 15, 2016. The couple has since welcomed two children, a son named James and a daughter named Grace. Not much is known about them, as their parents keep them out of the spotlight.
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