A most improbable astronaut just went to space - Ars Technica Skip to content Ars Technica home Sections Forum Subscribe Search AI Biz & IT Cars Culture Gaming Health Policy Science Security Space Tech Feature Reviews AI Biz & IT Cars Culture Gaming Health Policy Science Security Space Tech Forum Subscribe Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only    Learn more Pin to story Theme HyperLight Day & Night Dark System Search Sign In Sign in dialog... Sign in Chasing Dreams A most improbable astronaut just went to space “I pretty much, at that point in time, gave up on being an astronaut.” Eric Berger – Jul 15, 2026 7:30 am | 8 NASA astronaut and Expedition 75 crewmember Anil Menon, left, and his wife, NASA astronaut candidate Anna Menon, right, pose for a photograph between glass, Monday, July 13, 2026, at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Credit: John Kraus/NASA NASA astronaut and Expedition 75 crewmember Anil Menon, left, and his wife, NASA astronaut candidate Anna Menon, right, pose for a photograph between glass, Monday, July 13, 2026, at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Credit: John Kraus/NASA Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only    Learn more Minimize to nav Anil Menon, a NASA flight surgeon, felt crushed nine years ago as his hopes and aspirations collapsed around him. For the fourth time, he had diligently applied to become an astronaut at the US space agency, seeking to fulfill a lifelong dream. Although he made it to the final round, NASA had once again rejected his application at the end of the grueling process.

“I was so sad, and I admitted defeat,” Menon said. “I just did not see a pathway forward. So I pretty much, at that point in time, gave up on being an astronaut. I thought there was a zero percent chance.” He was 39 years old.

Source: https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/07/a-most-improbable-astronaut-just-went-to-space/