Our Bureau
Washington, DC
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina arrived safely at the International Space Station on Tuesday, increasing the orbiting laboratory’s crew complement to 10 for the next two weeks.
The three astronauts launched aboard the Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Following a three-hour journey spanning two orbits of Earth, the spacecraft successfully docked with the station’s Prichal module.
During his stay aboard the station, Menon will conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations aimed at advancing human space exploration and benefiting life on Earth. He will continue research to refine in-space production of semiconductor crystals to enable the large-scale manufacturing of components needed for high-performance computers, artificial intelligence, and improved medical devices. Menon also will perform ultrasound using augmented reality and artificial intelligence methods that could eliminate the need for medical support from Earth on future space missions. He will be a test subject helping researchers understand how blood flow is affected in space to protect future astronauts. He also will test bioprinting vascular constructs in microgravity to improve understanding of the aging process to advance therapeutic developments.
