For most people, the stars are something to admire from afar. For Indian American astronaut Anil Menon, they have become a destination.

The NASA astronaut is preparing for the biggest mission of his career—an eight-month stay aboard the International Space Station. But long before he was training for life in microgravity, Menon was dedicating himself to medicine, public service and scientific discovery, experiences that would ultimately shape his remarkable journey beyond Earth.

On July 14, astronaut Anil Menon will launch aboard the Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome for his first-ever mission to the International Space Station (ISS), where he will spend approximately eight months orbiting the planet at an altitude of nearly 400 kilometres.

A Life Built on Excellence

Menon’s story is one of relentless pursuit and versatility. Born in Minneapolis to Indian and Ukrainian immigrant parents, he built an impressive academic foundation. He studied at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, earned a degree in neurobiology from Harvard University before obtaining a medical degree and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University.

But his achievements did not stop there. He became a physician, an engineer, a US Space Force colonel, a certified flight instructor with over 1,000 flying hours and eventually a NASA astronaut. Along the way, he also served as SpaceX’s first flight surgeon, helping develop astronaut medical systems and supporting historic commercial spaceflight missions.

Each chapter added another layer to a career dedicated to exploration, innovation and human progress.

Returning to Star City—This Time as an Astronaut

For Menon, the mission carries deep personal significance. More than a decade ago, he walked the halls of Star City in Russia as a NASA flight surgeon, working behind the scenes to support astronauts preparing for space. Today, he walks those same corridors wearing the blue suit of a NASA astronaut.

The Power of Mental Strength

Space missions demand much more than physical fitness. Menon believes the greatest challenge is psychological resilience, the ability to remain calm, focused and adaptable under pressure.

His preparation has included some of the world's toughest endurance challenges, including Ironman competitions and the elite military-style Kokoro challenge. Years spent solving complex problems at SpaceX also taught him to view seemingly impossible tasks as opportunities rather than obstacles. That mindset will be critical as he spends nearly 240 days living and working in microgravity.

Inspired by India, Reaching for the Universe

Speaking to NDTV, when asked what his younger self from Delhi would think today, Menon offered a touching response. He imagines that young student simply looking up and saying, "I'll be up there soon with you."

Menon credits India for nurturing his belief that anything is possible. His experiences in Indian classrooms, communities and rural villages taught him the value of perseverance, service and dreaming beyond limitations. As India advances its own human spaceflight ambitions, Menon hopes his journey inspires young people to think bigger than their circumstances.

During his stay aboard the ISS, Menon will conduct scientific experiments that could help future missions to the Moon and Mars. His research will examine how microgravity affects blood flow and human health while also testing technologies that could support medical care during deep-space exploration.