NASA Astronaut Anil Menon and Crewmates Arrive at International Space Station
The new arrivals join Expedition 74 for a two-week overlap before the start of Expedition 75, with Menon set to lead research on semiconductor crystals and augmented reality ultrasound.
NASA astronaut Anil Menon, alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, arrived safely at the International Space Station on Tuesday, bringing the orbiting laboratory’s crew to 10 for approximately the next two weeks. The trio launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft at 10:47 a.m. EDT (7:47 p.m. local time).
After a three-hour, two-orbit journey, the spacecraft docked with the station’s Prichal module at 1:52 p.m. The new arrivals will be welcomed by the Expedition 74 crew, which includes NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, and Chris Williams; European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot; and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikaev, and Andrey Fedyaev.
During his stay aboard the station, Menon will conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations aimed at advancing human space exploration and benefiting life on Earth. He will continue research to refine in-space production of semiconductor crystals to enable the large-scale manufacturing of components needed for high-performance computers, artificial intelligence, and improved medical devices.
Menon also will perform ultrasound using augmented reality and artificial intelligence methods that could eliminate the need for medical support from Earth on future space missions. He will be a test subject helping researchers understand how blood flow is affected in space to protect future astronauts. He also will test bioprinting vascular constructs in microgravity to improve understanding of the aging process to advance therapeutic developments.
Expedition 75 is scheduled to begin on Sunday, July 26, following the departure of Williams, Kud-Sverchkov, and Mikaev, as they conclude an eight-month science mission aboard the orbital outpost. Station command will transfer from Kud-Sverchkov to Meir during a ceremony scheduled for 9:40 a.m. on Saturday, July 25.
NASA’s live coverage of the hatch opening begins at 3:30 p.m. on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. The change of command ceremony will also be broadcast live on NASA+.
