The Menons Make History: Anna Joins NASA’s 2025 Astronaut Class

India-West News Desk

HOUSTON, TX — Anna Menon, recently a mission specialist on SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn flight, has been selected for NASA’s 2025 astronaut class, marking another milestone in a career already filled with record-setting achievements. Menon, who helped set a new altitude record for a woman in space and took part in the first commercial spacewalk, began her official astronaut training in September.

Adding a unique twist to the story, Anna is married to fellow NASA astronaut Anil Menon, making them one of the rare couples where both partners are active astronauts. The Menons have two children, and Anil is scheduled to fly on the Soyuz MS-29 mission in June 2026 as part of Expedition 75.

Menon’s path to space began at SpaceX, where she worked for seven years as a senior engineer, supporting crew operations for Dragon and Starship spacecraft and spending time in mission control. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and Spanish from Texas Christian University and a master’s in biomedical engineering from Duke University.

A Houston native, Menon balances her professional life with community service, volunteering with organizations like the World Health Organization and Engineers Without Borders. She enjoys hiking, scuba diving, and flying.

Her contributions to Polaris Dawn earned her several honors, including the World Record for Altitude: Women’s Record and the Dr. Buzz Aldrin Space Advancement Award. Additional accolades include the Duke University Distinguished Young Alumni Award, multiple SpaceX recognitions, and NASA awards for her work at Johnson Space Center.

Together, Anna and Anil Menon represent both a personal and professional partnership, charting new frontiers in space exploration while raising a family on Earth.