A Resume Like No Other
Few careers span emergency medicine, military service, private spaceflight, and government astronautics—but NASA’s Anil Menon has done just that. After serving as a flight surgeon for the agency, he moved to SpaceX in 2018 to become its medical director, conducting pioneering research on how microgravity affects the human body. In 2021, Menon was selected as a NASA astronaut, and since then he has been training relentlessly for his own trip to orbit. Adding to the space‑family dynamic, his wife, Anna Menon, flew on a private mission in 2024 and was herself chosen as a NASA astronaut last year. All the while, Menon has balanced roles as an Air Force Reserve officer and an emergency room physician.
Finally Heading to Orbit
This July, Menon will travel to Kazakhstan to join two Russian cosmonauts aboard the storied Soyuz crew vehicle—the same capsule that has transported astronauts safely for decades. He will spend eight months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), conducting experiments and helping maintain orbital operations. The journey marks the culmination of a career dedicated to preparing others for spaceflight; now he will experience it himself.
Bridging Space Cultures
Through its long‑standing partnership with Roscosmos, NASA has routinely placed astronauts and cosmonauts on each other’s missions. This arrangement gives Menon a uniquely broad perspective: He has worked inside NASA, alongside the Russian space program, and at SpaceX. “NASA kind of bridges the gap between some of these different cultures and synthesizes it,” he explains. “As we look at the moon, everyone is going to pursue that as well. I think that NASA is this great synergy for all of that.” His experience positions him to understand how institutional differences can be harmonized in pursuit of common exploration goals.
Soyuz vs. Crew Dragon: A Tale of Two Spacecraft
In a recent interview, Menon compared the Soyuz and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon—two very different approaches to orbital transportation.
The Soyuz: Proven, Rugged, and Compact
“The Soyuz was developed for some of the first space flights and it’s got this long heritage tracing back to what we consider the space race,” Menon says. “They’ve tried to keep things that work and just keep them working for high‑reliability reasons.” He notes that computers and screen layouts are push‑button and intentionally simple. The seats and life‑support systems were designed for shorter cosmonauts, so a 6’1” astronaut like Menon is a snug fit. Even the spacesuit seals differently: a rubber pressure ring is twisted closed and secured with two bands instead of a zipper. “It works, and it’s always worked,” he says with respect.
Crew Dragon: Modern Engineering Meets User Comfort
SpaceX’s vehicle, born in the 21st century, pushes engineering frontiers. From its sleek touch‑screen controls to its more accommodating seats, the Dragon prioritizes crew comfort and rapid iteration. Menon’s dual exposure to both spacecraft gives him rare insight into the trade‑offs between legacy reliability and modern innovation.
The Unanswered Questions of Human Spaceflight
Menon remains focused on the biggest unknowns about microgravity’s effects on the body—bone density loss, vision changes, and radiation risk. His research at SpaceX informed private astronaut missions, and his imminent Soyuz flight will add firsthand data. As commercial space stations come online, he believes that NASA’s synthesis of different engineering and medical cultures will be essential for solving these challenges.
With an eight‑month stay ahead, Menon is ready to trade scrubs for a spacesuit—and to help shape the future of human space exploration from orbit.