New Delhi: Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon has successfully arrived at the International Space Station (ISS), marking the start of his first spaceflight
and an eight-month research mission. Menon launched with Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The spacecraft joined the ISS’s Prichal module some three hours after being launched, bringing the station’s total crew strength to 10 for the next two weeks.
Before the launch, Menon posted a tweet on X, indicating that he was happy to represent the United States Space Force and to be part of NASA and international partners. The crew is set to stay aboard the orbiting lab until April 2027, according to NASA. The mission is Menon’s first spaceflight and his second mission to the ISS, Dubrov’s second mission to the station and Kikina’s second flight to the space station.
Anil Menon to lead AI, medical and space technology research
Welcome aboard the International Space Station, @astro_anil.
Your mission is just getting started. Wishing you and your crewmates a successful expedition as you advance research and inspire millions back here on Earth. pic.twitter.com/Vp9ceT1Ea5
— NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (@NASAAdmin) July 14, 2026
Menon will conduct a series of scientific experiments and technology demonstrations to enable future human exploration of the Moon and Mars, according to NASA. His research has involved enhancing the creation of semiconductor crystals in microgravity, which may lead to the development of components for medical devices, artificial intelligence systems and high-performance computing.
The astronaut will also use ultrasound techniques that incorporate AR and AI. NASA thinks that these techniques could decrease astronauts’ reliance on the medical support of Earth on deep space missions. Menon will also be involved in the study of blood circulation in space and the assessment of bioprinting of vascular tissue in microgravity to aid with the study of ageing and future medical treatments.
Expedition 75 preparations underway aboard ISS
Menon, Dubrov and Kikina were greeted by the Expedition 74 crew, which consists of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway and Chris Williams, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikaev and Andrey Fedyaev.
LIVE: Watch as the @Space_Station welcomes @astro_anil and the rest of the crew aboard. The spacecraft’s hatch opening is scheduled for 3:55pm ET (1955 UTC). https://t.co/xo2sV1yz4h
— NASA (@NASA) July 14, 2026
The start of Expedition 75 will officially begin after Williams, Kud-Sverchkov and Mikaev leave on July 26, NASA said. During a formal change of command ceremony, station command will pass from Kud-Sverchkov to Jessica Meir a day earlier.
Mission expected to support future Moon and Mars exploration
The ISS mission will see research conducted in areas of human health, biology, physics, Earth observation and advanced technologies. The results will be applied to the agency’s project, Artemis, for human Mars exploration missions and its future manned Mars exploration programme.
Board-certified emergency physician Menon also received accolades from the American Board of Emergency Medicine after the successful launch. For over 25 years the ISS has been continuously occupied by astronauts and provides a unique laboratory for scientists to do experiments they can’t do on earth.
