&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "'Onwards and upwards': Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon lifts off for 240 day space mission")
Indian origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon began his maiden space mission on Tuesday (July 14) after lifting off aboard Roscosmos' Soyuz MS 29 spacecraft for an eight-month stay at the International Space Station (ISS).
The spacecraft lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 8.17 pm IST and is expected to reach the ISS after a three-hour journey before docking with the station's Russian Prichal module.
Menon launched alongside Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. After reaching the orbital laboratory, the trio will join the Expedition 74/75 crew, which includes astronauts from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Roscosmos.
Confirming the launch, NASA shared a message on X.
"Onwards and upwards!@astro_anil, Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina lifted off from Baikonur at 10:47 am ET (1447 UTC).
They'll arrive at the@Space_Station later today; live docking coverage is scheduled to begin at 1:10 pm ET (1710 UTC)," NASA wrote on X.
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Who is Anil Menon?
Dr Anil Menon is a physician, mechanical engineer and colonel in the United States Space Force. He was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Indian and Ukrainian immigrant parents. His background combines medicine, engineering and aerospace experience, making him one of NASA's multidisciplinary astronauts.
Menon earned a bachelor's degree in neurobiology from Harvard University before completing a master's degree in mechanical engineering and a Doctor of Medicine from Stanford University. He later finished residencies in emergency medicine and aerospace medicine at Stanford University and the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.
Before joining NASA's astronaut corps, Menon served as SpaceX's first flight surgeon. He helped oversee the NASA SpaceX Demo 2 mission, the first crewed flight of the Dragon spacecraft. He also played a key role in building SpaceX's human spaceflight medical programme and supported NASA and SpaceX missions as a crew flight surgeon.
What will Menon do on the ISS?
During his stay aboard the International Space Station, Menon will carry out scientific research and technology demonstrations designed to support future human space missions while also benefiting life on Earth.
According to NASA, he will continue research to improve the space production of semiconductor crystals, helping support large-scale manufacturing of components used in high-performance computers, artificial intelligence and advanced medical devices.
Menon will also perform ultrasound using augmented reality and artificial intelligence methods that could reduce the need for medical support from Earth during future space missions.
He will take part as a test subject in research examining how spaceflight affects blood flow, helping scientists develop ways to protect future astronauts. In addition, he will test bioprinting vascular constructs in microgravity to improve understanding of the ageing process and support future therapeutic developments.
