Dr. Anil Menon is all set for the Soyuz MS-29 mission, which is expected to last for eight months. Amid that, his wife, Anna's emotional post has resurfaced.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleNASA astronaut Dr. Anil Menon has officially left for his first journey to space. The spacecraft launched on July 14, 2026, and as per a report by TOI, it is expected to last nearly eight months. He is along with Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. During this time, Anil Menon will be performing a few scientific experiments.
Hours before the launch, Dr. Anil Menon shared his excitement on X (formerly Twitter). Amid that, a lot of attention has shifted towards his personal life, including his wife, Anna Menon. Amid Anil Menon's mission, do you know that his wife, Anna is also a SpaceX engineer and astronaut? Yes, that's true. Continue reading to know about Anna's recent post for her husband!
On June 2, 2026, NASA astronaut Anna Menon took to her Instagram handle to pen a heartfelt note for her husband, as he is all set for his Soyuz MS-29 mission. She shared a photo of her and Anil, along with their two children. With it, she recalled the time when she went on a space mission in 2024 and Anil took care of the children. In the note, she revealed that the roles will reverse now. A part of her note can be read as:
"Today @astro_anil heads to Russia to begin the final stretch before launch. Spaceflight is often told through the lens of the crew members who fly, but every mission has another side too: the families who stay behind. During Polaris Dawn, Anil was the one at home while I flew. This time, our roles are reversed. Having experienced both sides has given us an even greater appreciation for the families who support these missions from the ground."
Further, Anna Menon also expressed her pride over her husband, Anil and cheered the loudest for him. She concluded the note by mentioning that Anil Menon will leave on a mission in July 2026, and will return in 2027 after nearly eight months. Her note can be read as:
"We’re incredibly proud of Anil and thrilled that he has the opportunity to live this dream and contribute to human spaceflight’s endeavors. And while July will bring his launch to orbit, today feels like the beginning of our family’s mission, too. T-minus 43 days to launch. We’ll be cheering him on every step of the journey until he returns home in April 2027."
Now that Dr. Anil Menon is all set for the NASA mission, netizens can’t stop cheering for him. When Anna’s post went viral, one user commented, "What an incredible perspective!" Another user wrote, "The best family portrait." A third user penned, "This photo is truly magnificent. You are a very, very beautiful family. We wish you much happiness and that this experience will remain forever etched in your memory, Anil. We will be following your departure from France."
According to reports, Dr. Anil Menon was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is the son of Shankaran. His family comes from Ottapalam in Kerala's Palakkad district. On the other hand, Anil's mother, Elizabeth is of Ukrainian origin. Reportedly, Anil is the first astronaut from Malayali descent.
Before being a NASA astronaut, Anil worked as a flight surgeon. Reportedly, he supported astronauts who are going aboard the ISS. Eventually, he joined SpaceX. Initially, he also served as the lead flight surgeon for a few missions, including being a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon. Hours before the Suyoz MS-29 mission, Dr. Anil Menon took to his X handle to express his excitement and happiness on going on his first mission. He had penned:
"Excited to launch aboard Soyuz MS-29 from Kazakhstan and begin an eight-month mission supporting NASA and Expedition 74/75. Grateful for the NASA community, friends, family, and loved ones and excited for tomorrow - tune in July 14th 9:43 am central time."
All the best to Dr. Anil Menon, as he embarks on his first space mission!
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