Anna Menon
Anna Menon is an American Engineer. Menon was selected as a commercial astronaut on the Polaris Dawn mission, scheduled for the end of 2022.[1] Menon worked for NASA for seven years before joining SpaceX, where she works as a lead engineer of space operations.
Anna Menon | |
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Born | Anna Wilhelm |
Status | Active |
Alma mater | Texas Christian University (B.Math and B A. Spanish) Duke University (MSc-BME) |
Space career | |
SpaceX | |
Current occupation | SpaceX Lead Operations Engineer/Mission Director |
Time in space | None |
Missions | Polaris Dawn |
Education
Menon earned a Bachelor of mathematics and Spanish degree from Texas Christian University and a Master of Science degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University.[2]
Career
NASA

Menon was a NASA biomedical flight controller for the International Space Station, assisting ISS crews from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and leading biomedical operations for Expedition 41[3][2] including ISS US EVA 27 and 28.[4]
SpaceX
Menon is a Mission Director at SpaceX, where she helps the development of SpaceX crewed spaceflight missions and works at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. She manages the execution of Dragon manufacturing and operates as Crew Communications Operator.[2][5]
Menon was selected to be a mission specialist and chief medical officer for the Polaris Dawn mission, by spacecraft commander and billionaire Jared Isaacman.[1] The mission is expected to launch from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A by the end of 2022.[6]
Personal life
Menon is married to Anil Menon, lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force, NASA astronaut candidate and a former SpaceX Medical Director.[7] They have two children.[8] She appeared in the final episode of the five-episode docuseries entitled Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space, released on Netflix in September 2021.[9]
References
- "Jared Isaacman, who led the first all-private astronaut mission to orbit, has commissioned 3 more flights from SpaceX". Retrieved February 17, 2022.
- "Anna Menon". polarisprogram.com. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- Quint, The (February 17, 2022). "SpaceX Engineer Anna Menon Part of Crew for New Mission Called 'Polaris Dawn'". TheQuint. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- Expedition 41 US Spacewalk EVA 28 October 15 Part 2, retrieved March 4, 2022
- "Meet Anna Menon, crew member of SpaceX mission and wife of Kerala-origin astronaut candidate". OnManorama. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- "Meet the crew: SpaceX engineer Anna Menon to be on next space mission announced by Jared Isaacman". The Economic Times. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- Mars, Kelli (December 3, 2021). "NASA Astronaut Candidate Anil Menon". NASA. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- "Who Is Anna Menon? The SpaceX Engineer Part Of Mission Polaris Dawn". Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- Petski, Denise (August 3, 2021). "Netflix Greenlights 'Inspiration4' All Civilian Space Mission Docuseries From 'The Last Dance' Team". Deadline Hollywood.