Indian-origin astronaut Anil Menon has successfully reached the International Space Station (ISS) after launching aboard Russia’s Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft. Menon, along with two Roscosmos cosmonauts, docked with the ISS’s Prichal module following a three-hour journey from Kazakhstan. This mission marks Menon’s first spaceflight, focusing on scientific research and technology demonstrations.
The trio’s arrival has expanded the station’s crew to 10 members for the next two weeks. Menon expressed his pride in serving the United States Space Force and supporting NASA and international partners before the launch. He is set to remain aboard the ISS until April 2027, conducting research to advance human space exploration and benefit life on Earth.
During his time on the ISS, Menon will engage in scientific research, including the production of semiconductor crystals for high-performance computers and medical devices. He will also conduct ultrasound experiments using augmented reality and artificial intelligence methods. Menon’s mission will involve studying blood flow changes in space and testing bioprinting vascular constructs in microgravity.
Expedition 75 is scheduled to begin on July 26, following the completion of the current crew’s science mission. Menon’s mission has garnered congratulatory messages from various organizations and supporters, including the American Board of Emergency Medicine. The ISS, a vital research laboratory in space, has been continuously manned for over 25 years, facilitating crucial scientific work in various fields.
