Indian-born NASA astronaut Anil Menon is on his way to yet another big step in his career in space as he gears up for the first time in space travel, and is excited for his first spacewalk.
It is a big deal for the Indian community and NASA. NASA and the world are looking forward to the mission which also has been a great opportunity for Indian people to see the contributions of Indian astronauts in a larger sense in the space exploration sector from every field, and that more than ever in space.
Anil Menon, a physician, engineer and NASA astronaut, was selected for NASA’s 2021 astronaut class. He comes from a career as a flight surgeon, emergency medicine physician, and aerospace medical expert prior to joining the astronaut corps.
He also worked with SpaceX to develop medical support systems for human spaceflight missions such as the Crew Dragon program.
The upcoming spacewalk, also known as Extravehicular Activity (EVA), will be Menon's first time on the International Space Station.
On the mission, astronauts will perform maintenance, install scientific equipment, check things on the station and update systems to stay up on the ISS for long term work.
Spacewalks are still among the most challenging tasks astronauts tackle. But wearing special spacesuits that are like miniature spacecraft, astronauts are out there for a lot of hours in the harsh environment of space, where they are exposed to extreme temperatures, radiation exposure and to the vacuum of space.
Everything is trained, practiced and coordinated with mission control on Earth, every movement needs to be thought of in advance.
Menon's multidisciplinary background makes him ideally suited for this demanding mission. He has a great deal of experience in medicine, engineering, aviation and aerospace operations but also has years of training in underwater simulations, robotics, emergency response and ISS systems management.
His journey has inspired many aspiring scientists, engineers and medical professionals, particularly Indian students interested in STEM careers.
Menon’s success also reflects the increasing diversity in NASA’s astronaut corps, where people from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds contribute to complex international missions.
The International Space Station is still a laboratory for research that improves life on Earth. The experiments going on inside the orbiting laboratory involve medicine, biology, materials science, climate studies and future mission technologies on the Moon and Mars.
Spacewalks are vital to the station’s infrastructure and to the success of the scientific work being done.
Menon's achievement is another great achievement for India and it contributes to India becoming more and more involved in space exploration. With the achievements of astronauts and scientists of Indian heritage, his EVA marks the growth of Indian-origin professionals in international science collaboration.
As NASA gears up for the mission, space enthusiasts will closely watch Anil Menon step into the vacuum of space to begin.
The historic spacewalk will be a new era of explorers and will cement the common mission to progress the field of science, innovation, and discovery in space.
