Anil Menon

Anil Menon is a NASA Astronaut Candidate who has an impressive background in medicine, aerospace, and military service. Here are key details about his career and accomplishments:

Education and Early Career

Anil Menon graduated from Saint Paul Academy and Summit School in Minnesota in 1995.24 He went on to earn several advanced degrees:

• A.B. in Neurobiology from Harvard College (1995-1999)3
• M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University (2003-2004)3
• M.D. from Stanford Medical School (2000-2006)3
• Master's Degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (2010-2011)3

Medical and Military Experience

Dr. Menon is a practicing emergency medicine physician with specialized training in wilderness and aerospace medicine.12 His notable experiences include:

• Serving as a first responder during major disasters, including the 2010 Haiti earthquake and 2015 Nepal earthquake12
• Working as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, where he logged over 100 sorties in F-15 fighter jets and transported over 100 patients as part of the critical care air transport team12

Space-Related Career

Menon's involvement in space exploration has been extensive:

• Served as a NASA flight surgeon starting in 2014, supporting multiple missions to the International Space Station2
• Became SpaceX's first flight surgeon in 2018, helping launch the company's first crewed missions and serving as Medical Director24
• Selected as a NASA Astronaut Candidate in 2021 out of 12,000 applicants12
• Completed the two-year NASA astronaut training program on March 5, 20242

Personal Life

Anil Menon was born on October 15, 1976, to Ukrainian and Indian immigrant parents in Minneapolis, Minnesota.4 He is married to Anna Menon, a SpaceX engineer and spaceflight crew member, and they have two children.4

With his diverse background in medicine, aerospace, and emergency response, Dr. Menon is now qualified for potential space missions, including research on the International Space Station and future deep space exploration.24