Born in Minneapolis to Indian and Ukrainian immigrant parents, Menon is an emergency medicine physician and a colonel in the US Space Force. He joined NASA as a flight surgeon in 2014 and later moved to SpaceX, where he established the company’s medical programme and contributed to the development of Starship. Menon will conduct experiments on the physiological effects of long-duration spaceflight, test technologies for producing intravenous fluids, and refine the in-space production of semiconductor crystals. His research could have significant implications for future deep-space missions. Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan congratulated Menon, calling his mission a "truly historic milestone" for the state. The entire Malayali community is extending their best wishes for a safe and successful mission.