Science TechnologyWednesday, 15 July 2026·The Hindu - International
Anil Menon in ISS: first NASA astronaut of Malayali descent and Soyuz MS-29 mission facts
NASA astronaut Anil Menon reached the ISS on July 15, 2026 aboard Soyuz MS-29 for an eight-month Expedition 74 mission.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On July 15, 2026, NASA astronaut Anil Menon reached the International Space Station aboard Soyuz MS-29 from Baikonur, beginning an eight-month mission as part of Expedition 74.
Key specifics
- Soyuz MS-29 lifted off from Baikonur at 8:17 pm IST on July 14, 2026.
- The spacecraft docked at the Prichal module at 11:52 p.m. IST after a nearly three-hour chase.
- Menon is 49 years old and was selected as a NASA astronaut in December 2021.
- He began his NASA career as a flight surgeon in 2014 and joined SpaceX in 2018.
- His mission includes research on microgravity effects, intravenous fluids using the station’s potable water system, and semiconductor crystal production.
Exam lens
Question type: Space science and current affairs, ISS, Soyuz MS-29, Expedition 74, Baikonur, July 2026. TNPSC may ask the launch time, docking module, and the duration of Menon’s first spaceflight.