Anil Menon will conduct cutting-edge research in AI-assisted healthcare, semiconductor manufacturing, and human physiology to support future missions to the Moon and Mars.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, July 14: Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon has embarked on an eight-month scientific mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), marking another milestone in the growing contribution of the Indian diaspora to global space exploration.
Menon lifted off on Tuesday, July 14, from the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Anna Kikina and Pyotr Dubrov. Following a carefully choreographed orbital journey, the spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the ISS, where the trio will join Expedition 75, continuing a long tradition of international cooperation in space.
The mission comes at a crucial time for human spaceflight as NASA and its international partners intensify preparations for returning astronauts to the Moon under the Artemis programme and eventually sending humans to Mars. Scientists believe that understanding how the human body adapts to prolonged spaceflight, while simultaneously developing technologies for autonomous medical care and advanced manufacturing, will be essential for future deep-space expeditions.
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Physician, Engineer and Astronaut
Unlike many astronauts who come from military aviation backgrounds, Menon brings a unique combination of expertise as a physician, engineer and flight surgeon.
Specialising in emergency medicine and aerospace medicine, he has previously served as a flight surgeon supporting NASA astronauts as well as commercial human spaceflight missions. His medical expertise makes him particularly valuable for research aimed at understanding the physiological effects of long-duration missions beyond Earth’s orbit.
During his stay aboard the ISS, Menon will perform experiments while also serving as a research subject, allowing scientists to monitor how months in microgravity affect the human body.
.@NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina lifted off atop the Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft at 10:47 a.m. EDT today for a 1:56 p.m. docking to the International Space Station. More… https://t.co/OgfE3jFh0Y pic.twitter.com/D0IWMdUbZP
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) July 14, 2026
AI to Revolutionise Space Medicine
One of the mission’s most significant experiments will evaluate AI-assisted ultrasound technology, designed to enable astronauts to perform sophisticated medical imaging with minimal assistance from doctors on Earth.
Currently, astronauts often rely on medical specialists on the ground for guidance during complex procedures. However, future lunar and Martian missions will involve communication delays ranging from several seconds to more than twenty minutes, making real-time medical assistance impossible.
The new AI-powered system aims to guide crew members through diagnostic scans independently, an innovation that could prove lifesaving during deep-space missions.
Researchers believe the technology could also transform healthcare in remote regions on Earth where access to medical specialists is limited.
Manufacturing Better Semiconductors in Space
Another major focus of Menon’s mission involves manufacturing advanced semiconductor materials under microgravity conditions.
Scientists have long known that the absence of gravity allows crystals and other materials to form more uniformly, reducing defects commonly found during manufacturing on Earth.
By producing higher-quality semiconductor materials aboard the ISS, researchers hope to improve future generations of electronic devices, high-performance computing systems and communications technology.
The findings could eventually influence industries ranging from consumer electronics to artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
Understanding the Human Body in Space
Long-duration spaceflight presents numerous health challenges, including muscle loss, bone density reduction, cardiovascular changes and altered blood circulation.
Throughout the mission, Menon will participate in extensive physiological studies examining how prolonged exposure to weightlessness affects blood flow, heart function and overall health.
The research will help scientists develop improved exercise routines, nutritional strategies and medical countermeasures to protect astronauts undertaking months-long journeys to the Moon and Mars.
Such studies have already produced benefits for patients on Earth by improving understanding of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and muscle degeneration.
Advancing Bioprinting and Regenerative Medicine
The ISS will also serve as a laboratory for experiments in bioprinting, an emerging field that uses specialised 3D printers to create biological tissues.
Researchers believe microgravity allows tissues to develop more naturally without collapsing under their own weight, potentially enabling the creation of more complex biological structures than is possible on Earth.
The technology could eventually contribute to advances in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and treatments for age-related diseases.
Scientists hope these experiments will deepen understanding of how organs and tissues grow while laying the foundation for future medical breakthroughs.
Preparing for the Artemis Era
NASA says the scientific data collected during Menon’s eight-month mission will directly support the agency’s Artemis programme, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon before launching crewed missions to Mars.
Every experiment conducted aboard the ISS helps researchers understand how humans can survive and thrive during years-long missions far from Earth, where medical assistance, supplies and emergency evacuation are impossible.
The mission also reflects the increasingly international nature of space exploration, with astronauts from different countries collaborating aboard the ISS despite geopolitical tensions on Earth.
A Proud Moment for the Indian Diaspora
Menon’s launch adds another chapter to the remarkable achievements of people of Indian origin in global space exploration. Following pioneers such as Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams, his mission underscores the growing role of Indian-origin scientists, engineers and astronauts in advancing human knowledge beyond Earth.
Over the next eight months, Menon will contribute to dozens of scientific investigations that could reshape medicine, manufacturing and space exploration while helping pave the way for humanity’s next giant leap—sending astronauts deeper into the Solar System than ever before.
