A Father’s Guide to the Future of Mars | Dr. Anil Menon

In this special bonus episode of Aspiring Martians, I caught up with NASA astronaut Dr. Anil Menon just weeks before his first journey to space aboard Soyuz MS-29, where he’ll spend roughly eight months aboard the International Space Station as part of Expeditions 74 and 75.

Although Anil has served as a NASA flight surgeon, SpaceX’s first medical director, an Air Force physician, engineer, pilot, and emergency medicine specialist, he says the most challenging role he’s ever had is being a father.

With Father’s Day having just passed in the United States, our conversation explores the human side of space exploration—how he and his wife, fellow astronaut Anna Menon, balance two demanding careers while raising their children, the creative ways he stays connected with his family during long separations, and why parenting may be some of the very best preparation for becoming an astronaut.

As humanity prepares for missions lasting years instead of months, these are the kinds of conversations we’ll need to have more often. Because building a civilization on Mars won’t just require engineers and astronauts—it will require families.