NASA has officially named Houston native Anna Menon as one of ten members of its 2025 astronaut candidate class. The 39-year-old, who has already traveled to space on a private mission, will now begin a rigorous two-year training program to qualify for future flights to the International Space Station, the moon, and potentially Mars.
The selection marks the fulfillment of a childhood dream for Menon, which began with a school field trip to NASA. She is the third astronaut to be born and raised in the Houston area, joining a prestigious group of space explorers.
Key Takeaways
- Anna Menon, 39, is one of 10 new astronaut candidates selected by NASA for its 2025 class.
- She is the third astronaut to be born and raised in the Houston area.
- Menon has prior spaceflight experience from the private Polaris Dawn mission with SpaceX.
- Her husband, Anil Menon, was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021, making them an astronaut couple.
A Childhood Dream Sparked by a Field Trip
For Anna Menon, the journey to becoming a NASA astronaut began in the fourth grade. A class field trip to NASA, organized by her teacher Alison Smith Balch, provided an immersive experience that set the course for her future career. Balch is the daughter of Michael J. Smith, an astronaut who was part of the Challenger crew.
“We got to experience a day in the life of an astronaut as well as a flight controller in mission control,” Menon recalled. “And that experience just lit a fire in me to want to be a part of this industry. I dreamed of getting to do this work.”
This early inspiration was later supported by key educators, including a high school math teacher who encouraged her through challenging calculus courses. According to Menon, his teaching helped her develop a love for the subject and the confidence to pursue it at a higher level.
From Houston Schools to Mission Control
Menon's roots are firmly planted in Houston. She attended several local schools, including Barbara Bush Elementary, Shadowbriar Middle School, Paul Revere Middle School, and Westside High School. Her academic path reflects a strong foundation in STEM fields.
Educational and Professional Background
Menon earned a bachelor's degree with a double major in mathematics and Spanish from Texas Christian University. She followed this with a master's degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University. Before her selection as an astronaut candidate, she worked at NASA as a biomedical flight controller, where she was responsible for medical systems aboard the International Space Station.
Her work in mission control provided direct experience with the operational side of human spaceflight, a critical skill set for her new role. It was also during her time in Houston that she met her husband, Anil Menon, who was a flight surgeon at NASA.
Intensive Training for Future Space Missions
As an astronaut candidate, Menon will undergo an extensive two-year training and evaluation period at the Johnson Space Center. This program is designed to prepare candidates for the complex challenges of spaceflight.
The training curriculum is comprehensive and includes several key areas:
- Spacecraft Systems: In-depth instruction on the vehicles they will operate, including systems for the International Space Station and future lunar missions.
- Flight Training: Candidates will learn to fly T-38 supersonic jets to develop piloting skills and the ability to make quick decisions in dynamic environments.
- Spacewalking: Training for extravehicular activities (EVAs) takes place in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, a massive swimming pool that simulates microgravity.
- Language Skills: Proficiency in Russian is required for communication with international partners and for operations on the ISS.
Upon successful completion of the program, Menon and her classmates will become eligible for assignment to a variety of missions, contributing to NASA's goals of scientific research and deep space exploration.
Prior Spaceflight Experience
Anna Menon is not new to space. She previously flew as part of the crew on the Polaris Dawn mission, a private spaceflight operated by SpaceX. During that mission, she orbited Earth in a Dragon capsule, an experience that gave her a unique perspective before even starting her official NASA training.
Reflecting on her return from that mission, Menon described the powerful impression of seeing our planet. “What strikes me is how warm and welcoming our Earth and our planet is,” she said. “And we get to go back to that place with all the people we love on it.”
An Astronaut Couple and Houston's Legacy
Menon's selection adds a unique chapter to NASA's history, as her husband, Anil Menon, was selected as a NASA astronaut in the 2021 class. He is scheduled for his first mission next year. The couple, who have two children, now share a rare professional bond.
“We both have dreamed of getting to be astronauts from a very young age,” Anna Menon stated. “To both get to be here at NASA together is really beyond our wildest dreams.”
She is also only the third astronaut to be born and raised in the Houston area, a city synonymous with human spaceflight. The first two were Shannon Walker, selected in 2004, and Loral O’Hara, selected in 2017. Menon noted that O'Hara has already become a mentor to her, providing guidance as she begins her NASA career.
Since the first astronaut class in 1959, NASA has recruited 370 candidates. Menon's inclusion in this elite group continues the tradition of exploration while strengthening Houston's deep connection to the nation's space program.