Anna Menon

SpaceX Mission Director and commercial astronaut

Anil Menon
​
(m. 2016)​
Children2Space careerSpaceX Commercial Astronaut
Time in space
5 days (planned)MissionsPolaris Dawn
Mission insignia
Logo_of_Polaris_Dawn

Anna Menon is an American engineer employed by SpaceX as lead space operations and a mission director. She is scheduled to fly on Polaris Dawn, a private human spaceflight mission operated by SpaceX on behalf of Jared Isaacman. During the mission, she will serve as the onboard medical officer. Menon previously worked as a biomedical flight controller at NASA for six years, overseeing operations at the International Space Station before joining SpaceX.

Education

Menon graduated from Texas Christian University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and spanish.[1][2] She went on to earn a Master of Science degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University in 2010.[3]

Menon was also a member of the Iota Lambda chapter of Alpha Chi Omega sorority at Texas Christian University.[4]

Career

NASA

Menon worked at NASA for seven years, and for six of those years she served as a 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[5][6] including ISS US EVA's 27 and 28.[7]

SpaceX

Menon joined SpaceX in July 2018 as a Space Operations Engineer. She was promoted to Lead Space Operations Engineer in November 2019.[8] In her position, she manages the development of crew operations, ensuring that procedures and protocols are in place for astronauts during their missions.[9][6] She also served in the company's mission control, including during the Demo-2 flight. During Inspiration4, a private spaceflight funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, she served as technical adviser to the family members of the all-civilian crew, explaining the complexities of spaceflight to loved ones on the ground. Shortly after he returned from space, Isaacman picked Menon to be part of his Polaris Dawn mission. During the mission, Menon will serve as the on-board medical officer and will help carry out science experiments during the trip.[10][11][12]

Personal life

Anil and Anna Menon at NASA Mission Control Houston Texas to direct ISS US EVA 28

Anna married Anil Menon on October 15, 2016, in a ceremony in Houston.[13] They have two children together.[4][14] Both she and her husband appeared in the final episode of the five-episode television documentary entitled Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space, released on Netflix in September 2021.[15]

References

  1. ^ Washam, Delaney (May 28, 2024). "Arithmetic and Astronauts: Alumna Anna Menon Apart of Polaris Dawn Mission". Texas Christian University College of Science & Engineering. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  2. ^ "History in the Making: Alumna's Journey Will Be Out of This World". Texas Christian University. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  3. ^ Dixon, Mandy (November 3, 2023). "To Infinity and Beyond". Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Brown Moore, Karlee (Winter 2023). "Seeking the Heights Out of This World". The Lyre. Vol. 126, no. 2. Alpha Chi Omega. pp. 48–53. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  5. ^ Quint, The (February 17, 2022). "SpaceX Engineer Anna Menon Part of Crew for New Mission Called 'Polaris Dawn'". TheQuint. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Anna Menon". polarisprogram.com. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  7. ^ Expedition 41 US Spacewalk EVA 28 October 15 Part 2, retrieved March 4, 2022
  8. ^ "Anna (Wilhelm) Menon". LinkedIn. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  9. ^ "SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission: Who are the astronauts doing the spacewalk?". Reuters. August 26, 2024.
  10. ^ Wattles, Jackie (August 26, 2024). "Meet the 4-person crew spearheading SpaceX's daring Polaris Dawn mission". CNN. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  11. ^ "Jared Isaacman, who led the first all-private astronaut mission to orbit, has commissioned 3 more flights from SpaceX". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  12. ^ "Meet the crew: SpaceX engineer Anna Menon to be on next space mission announced by Jared Isaacman". The Economic Times. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  13. ^ "Anil & Anna". The Knot.
  14. ^ "Who Is Anna Menon? The SpaceX Engineer Part Of Mission Polaris Dawn". Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  15. ^ Petski, Denise (August 3, 2021). "Netflix Greenlights 'Inspiration4' All Civilian Space Mission Docuseries From 'The Last Dance' Team". Deadline Hollywood.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anna Menon.
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