NASA is preparing for astronaut Anil Menon’s first journey to space as he gets ready to launch aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft on July 14. He will travel alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina to join the Expedition 74 crew at the International Space Station (ISS).
The Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft is scheduled to lift off at 10:47 a.m. EDT (7:47 p.m. Baikonur time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. After a 2-orbit, 3-hour journey, the spacecraft is expected to dock automatically with the Prichal module at 1:56 p.m. EDT, followed by hatch opening at 3:55 p.m. EDT.
Once aboard the ISS, Menon, Dubrov, and Kikina will join NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, and Chris Williams, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikaev, and Andrey Fedyaev.
NASA will begin live launch coverage at 9:45 a.m. EDT, followed by docking coverage at 1:10 p.m. EDT and hatch opening coverage at 3:30 p.m. EDT. The broadcasts will be available on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel.
The crew is expected to spend around 8 months aboard the space station as part of Expedition 74/75 before returning to Earth in April 2027. This will be Menon’s 1st spaceflight, while it will be the 2nd mission for both Dubrov and Kikina.
During the mission, Menon will carry out scientific research and technology demonstrations focused on future space exploration and improving life on Earth. His work will include refining the production of semiconductor crystals in space for high-performance computers, artificial intelligence, and advanced medical devices. He will also conduct ultrasound studies using augmented reality and artificial intelligence, helping reduce the need for medical support from Earth during future missions. In addition, he will participate in research on blood flow in space and test bioprinting of vascular constructs in microgravity to support studies on aging and future therapies.
The International Space Station has supported continuous human presence for more than 25 years, enabling research that cannot be performed on Earth while helping prepare for future missions to the Moon under the Artemis program and eventually to Mars.
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