NASA astronaut Anil Menon is drawing attention after completing his second spacewalk in less than two weeks. Working with European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot on August 18, Menon spent 6 hours and 23 minutes outside the International Space Station removing a failed Space-to-Ground Antenna.

The astronauts secured the failed unit to the station's truss, but delays while disconnecting cables and loosening bolts meant they did not have time to install the replacement. NASA said that work would be completed during a future spacewalk.

Who is Anil Menon?

Anil Menon is a NASA astronaut, emergency-medicine physician, aerospace-medicine specialist, engineer and colonel in the US Space Force. NASA selected him for its 2021 astronaut candidate class. He reported for training in January 2022 and later became eligible for spaceflight assignments.

Menon launched to the ISS aboard Russia's Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft on July 14, 2026, with cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. NASA describes the flight as an approximately eight-month mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.

What is Anil Menon's connection to India?

Menon was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Ukrainian and Indian immigrant parents. His link with India is not only familial. After studying neurobiology at Harvard University, he spent a year in India as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, where he studied and supported polio-vaccination work.

That background is why he is accurately described as an Indian-origin American astronaut, rather than an Indian national astronaut.

What did he study?

Menon's education combines medicine, engineering and public health. He earned a bachelor's degree in neurobiology from Harvard University, a master's degree in mechanical engineering and a medical degree from Stanford University, and a master's in public health from the University of Texas Medical Branch.

He completed training in emergency medicine, wilderness medicine and aerospace medicine. NASA says he remains board-certified in aerospace medicine and emergency medicine.

How did he move from medicine to spaceflight?

Before becoming an astronaut, Menon worked at the intersection of medicine and aviation. He served as a flight surgeon in the US Air Force, logged more than 100 sorties in the F-15 and helped transport more than 100 patients with a critical-care air-transport team.

He also responded as a physician after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2011 Reno Air Show accident and the 2015 Nepal earthquake. His field experience included work with the Himalayan Rescue Association caring for climbers on Mount Everest.

What was his role at NASA and SpaceX?

Menon first worked for NASA as a flight surgeon from 2014. He supported long-duration ISS crew members and spent more than six months working in Star City, Russia.

In 2018, he joined SpaceX as the company's first flight surgeon. He helped build its medical programme, supported the Demo-2 mission that carried SpaceX's first human crew, served as lead flight surgeon for five launches and contributed to private-astronaut and Starship-related work.

What happened during his latest spacewalk?

Menon and Adenot began the spacewalk at 8:29 am EDT on August 18 and ended it at 2:52 pm EDT. The failed antenna had stopped performing its normal tracking function, although a second antenna continued to support critical data and communications with Mission Control in Houston.

NASA said the pair removed the failed unit and carried out a long-duration tie-down. The replacement installation was deferred. The outing was Menon's second spacewalk; his first, with NASA astronaut Jessica Meir on August 6, lasted 6 hours and 27 minutes. His total spacewalking time is now 12 hours and 50 minutes.

The mission was also historic for Adenot, who became the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk.

FAQs

Is Anil Menon an Indian astronaut?

He is an American NASA astronaut of Indian and Ukrainian immigrant heritage. 'Indian-origin NASA astronaut' is the accurate description.

Did Anil Menon install the new ISS antenna?

No. Menon and Sophie Adenot removed and secured the failed antenna, but the replacement installation was postponed to a future spacewalk.

Was this Anil Menon's first spacewalk?

No. It was his second. His first spacewalk took place on August 6, 2026.