The International Space Station is about to welcome a new crew as NASA astronaut Anil Menon prepares for his first trip into orbit. The mission is scheduled to launch today, July 14, 2026, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard the Russian spacecraft Soyuz MS-29, carrying Minon along with Roscosmos astronauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina.
After reaching orbit, the spacecraft is expected to complete a quick rendezvous with the station and dock just over three hours after launch, at which point the trio will become part of the long-term crew of Expedition 74 and 75.Their stay is reportedly expected to last about 8 months, during which they will support a wide range of scientific investigations and technology demonstrations aimed at improving future human spaceflight while also contributing to research with practical uses on Earth.
Who is Anil Menon: The doctor and military officer is now heading into space
For Anil Menon, this mission marks the beginning of his career as an astronaut after years spent in medicine, aerospace and military service.The 49-year-old was born in Minneapolis to parents of Indian and Ukrainian descent. Before joining NASA’s astronaut team, he built a diverse career combining emergency medicine and operational experience in challenging environments. As a doctor, he treated patients in hospitals and in remote mountain areas through the Himalayan Rescue Society, where he cared for climbers in the Everest region.
His military background includes serving as a colonel in the US Space Force, while his previous assignments with the US Air Force saw him deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Those experiences, which included clinical medicine, aviation and extreme environments, eventually led him to astronaut training.The Soyuz MS-29 mission marks Menon’s first flight into space. During his eight-month stay aboard the International Space Station, he will help conduct experiments on semiconductor manufacturing, space medicine, microgravity circulation, and bioprinting techniques, while contributing to the station’s daily scientific operations.
Anil Menon’s mission to the International Space Station: launch date, crew, duration, research and key details
| Task details | Information |
| a task | Soyuz MS-29 |
| Launch date | July 14, 2026 |
| Website launch | Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan |
| Launching the vehicle | Russian spacecraft Soyuz MS-29 |
| Launch time | 8:17 PM EDT (10:47 AM EDT) |
| Destination | International Space Station (ISS) |
| Task duration | About 8 months |
| International Space Station flight | Mission 74 and Mission 75 |
| Crew members | Anil Menon (NASA), Pyotr Dubrov (Roscosmos), Anna Kikina (Roscosmos) |
| Basic task | Conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations in microgravity |
| Mission objective | Promote future human space exploration while supporting medical, manufacturing and biological research through applications on Earth |
How will the Soyuz MS-29 mission reach the International Space Station?
The Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft is scheduled to be launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome at 10:47 a.m. EDT, 8:17 p.m. Indian Standard Time.Menon is joined by Roscosmos astronauts Pyotr Dubrov, who is returning for his second spaceflight, and Anna Kikina, who is also making her second trip into orbit. Menon is the only first-time space traveler among the three.The spacecraft will follow a dual-orbit profile before automatically docking with the station’s Prichal module approximately three hours after launch.
Once pressure checks and safety procedures are complete, hatches between the Soyuz and the station will open, allowing the crew to enter their new home in orbit.
PC: NASA
Astronauts and astronauts already live aboard the International Space Station
After arrival, the incoming astronauts will become part of the mission team residing on the International Space Station.According to NASA, they will join NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Chris Williams and ESA astronaut Sophie Adino, along with Roscosmos astronauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Mikaev and Andrey Fedyaev.Crew numbers on board the station change regularly as spacecraft arrive and depart, ensuring that scientific work continues uninterrupted throughout the year.
What research will Anil Menon conduct on board the International Space Station?
Much of Menon’s time in orbit will be devoted to scientific investigations that rely on the space station’s microgravity environment.One project will study improved methods for producing semiconductor crystals in space. Scientists hope this work will support future manufacturing techniques for advanced electronic components used in fields such as high-performance computing, artificial intelligence systems and medical technology.He is also expected to participate in studies using ultrasound supported by augmented reality and artificial intelligence. The goal is to make medical imaging easier for astronauts working far from Earth, reducing reliance on ground-based specialists during future deep space missions.Another investigation will examine how blood circulates in weightlessness. Understanding these changes is important to protect astronauts during long-duration missions beyond low Earth orbit.Menon will also participate in experiments involving bioprinting of vascular tissue in microgravity. Researchers are studying whether this environment could improve understanding of aging and ultimately contribute to future therapeutic research.