Anna Menon: SpaceX Engineer and Astronaut

Jul 13, 2026

78 min

Jul 13, 2026 07:30

Who is Anna Menon? The SpaceX engineer and astronaut married to NASA’s Anil Menon, whose family has Kerala roots

## Early Career and Achievements

Anna Menon, a prominent SpaceX engineer and astronaut, has made significant contributions to space exploration. Before embarking on her own space journey, she played a vital role in helping others reach orbit. Her work as a mission specialist and medical officer was crucial during the Polaris Dawn mission in 2024, which marked the first commercial spacewalk. During this mission, Menon participated in nearly 40 scientific experiments and contributed to medical research.

## Educational Background

Menon's academic journey includes dual bachelor's degrees in mathematics and Spanish from Texas Christian University, followed by a master's degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University. Her career at SpaceX spanned seven years, where she was involved in crewed spaceflight operations, including the Dragon spacecraft program.

## Personal Life and Family

Anna Menon is married to Dr. Anil Menon, a NASA astronaut with Indian and Ukrainian heritage. Anil Menon is set to embark on his first mission to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Russia’s Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft. His mission will focus on studying the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body, including research on blood circulation and the use of ultrasound and artificial intelligence.

## Connection to Kerala

Anil Menon has roots in Kerala, India, specifically in the Palakkad district. This connection adds a layer of significance to his upcoming mission, as he will be the first astronaut with ties to this region to travel to space. The district is also linked to other space achievers, including Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, an astronaut-designate for India’s Gaganyaan program.

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