NASA astronaut Anil Menon, who is of Indian origin, has launched on his first spaceflight aboard Russia's Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft, heading to the International Space Station for a research mission expected to last around eight months, including studies on how microgravity affects the human body.
Launch from Kazakhstan
The spacecraft lifted off from the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Tuesday night at around 8:17 pm. Menon was joined on board by Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. The flight marks a second spaceflight for both Dubrov and Kikina, while it is the first time Menon has left Earth for space.
Docking with the station in just over three hours
The Soyuz spacecraft is set to dock with the orbital laboratory, the International Space Station, a little more than three hours after launch. Once docked, the three crew members will join the rest of the station's crew to begin their work.
Eight months of research, return expected in 2027
Menon, Dubrov and Kikina are expected to spend close to eight months aboard the space station carrying out scientific research and technology experiments, including studying the effects of microgravity, extremely low gravity conditions, on the human body. The three are expected to return to Earth in 2027.
A milestone for an Indian-origin astronaut
Since Menon is of Indian origin and this is his first spaceflight, the mission is being viewed as a notable milestone for people of Indian origin as well. For NASA, the mission forms part of an ongoing long-duration research programme aboard the ISS, where astronauts from different countries work together.
