Anna Menon is an American engineer scheduled to fly on Polaris Dawn, a private space mission.[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
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Status | Active |
Alma mater | Texas Christian University (Bachelor's degreeinMathematics and Spanish) Duke University (MSc-BME) |
Space career | |
Current occupation | SpaceX Lead Operations Engineer and Mission Director |
Previous occupation | Biomedical Flight Controller at NASA |
Time in space | None (5 days planned) |
Missions | Polaris Dawn |
Menon earned a Bachelor's degreeinmathematics and Spanish from Texas Christian University and a Master of Science degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University.[2]
Menon was also a member of the Iota Lambda chapterofAlpha Chi Omega sorority at Texas Christian university.[citation needed]
Menon was a NASA biomedical flight controller for the International Space Station, assisting ISS crews from NASA's Johnson Space CenterinHouston, Texas, and leading biomedical operations for Expedition 41[3][2] including ISS US EVA's 27 and 28.[4]
Menon is a Mission Director at SpaceX, where she helps the development of human 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 is scheduled to fly on Polaris Dawn, a private spaceflight funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman.[6][7][8]
Menon is married to Anil Menon, lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force, NASA astronaut and former SpaceX Medical Director.[9] They have two children.[10] 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.[11]