NASA Astronaut Candidate Anna Menon

Anna W. Menon 

Summary

Anna Menon was selected by NASA to join the 2025 astronaut candidate class. She reported for duty in September 2025. In 2024, Menon flew to space as a mission specialist and medical officer aboard SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn. The mission saw a new female altitude record, the first commercial spacewalk, and the completion of approximately 40 research experiments. Menon earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University with a double major in mathematics and Spanish and holds a master’s in biomedical engineering from Duke University. Menon previously worked in Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, supporting medical hardware and software aboard the International Space Station. At the time of her selection, Menon was a senior engineer at SpaceX.  

Personal

Menon was born in Houston and considers it her hometown. Her parents also reside in Houston. She is married to NASA astronaut Anil Menon, and the couple has two children. Menon enjoys hiking, scuba diving, running, flying, salsa dancing, photography, and spending time with her family. 

She dedicates time to public service and volunteering. Immediately after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, Menon supported the World Health Organization’s water and sanitation response. She also has volunteered with the Engineers Without Borders and Engineering World Health organizations. 

Education

Menon graduated from Westside High School and earned a dual-major bachelor’s degree in mathematics and Spanish from Texas Christian University in 2008. She then attended Duke University, earning a master’s degree in biomedical engineering in 2010. 

Experience

At the time of her selection, Menon was a senior engineer at SpaceX, where she spent the last seven years shaping crew operations for the Dragon and Starship spacecraft. She also worked in SpaceX mission control as a mission director and crew communicator, serving in these roles for the agency’s historic SpaceX Demo-2 mission and six other SpaceX Dragon flights. 

In September 2024, Menon flew to space as a mission specialist and medical officer aboard SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn. Before her flight, she developed operations for the mission and participated in several preflight training evolutions, including earning her parachute jump wings with the U.S. Air Force Academy, summiting Mount Cotopaxi in Ecuador, and scuba diving. The mission saw a new female altitude record, the first commercial spacewalk, and the completion of nearly 40 research experiments. 

NASA Experience

Menon reported for duty in September 2025 to complete two years of initial astronaut training. 

Before working at SpaceX, she was a biomedical flight controller in Mission Control at NASA Johnson. In that role, she supported medical hardware and software aboard the International Space Station, helping to keep crews safe and healthy, and responded to real-time in-flight anomalies.  

Awards/Honors

As a member of the Polaris Dawn Mission, Menon was awarded the World Record, Altitude: Women’s Record (co-held for being one of two women to travel farthest from Earth, at 875 miles (1,408 kilometers)), the Dr. Buzz Aldrin Space Advancement Award, the John L. “Jack” Swigert, Jr. Award for Space Exploration, the Endeavor Award, and the Everyday Astronaut Astro Award.  

Her other awards and accomplishments include the Duke University Distinguished Young Alumni Award at Pratt School of Engineering, SpaceX Awards (two awards), Expedition 53 Group Achievement Award: Node 1 Communication Team, Expedition 48 Superior Individual Achievement Award, Power of One Award – Heroes of Harvey, Manager’s Choice Award (two awards) Outstanding Mission Operations Support, Young Professional Outstanding Achievement Award for Innovation, Biomedical Engineer of the Month, and the NASA Human Research Program Peer Award.