Washington, Aug 2026 : US President Donald Trump has praised Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon and his fellow International Space Station (ISS) crewmates Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, describing them as “great Americans, great patriots, brave people” during a call with the astronauts.
Trump spoke to the crew on Friday from the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston and invited the astronauts to the Oval Office following their return to Earth. He also acknowledged the risks involved in human spaceflight and praised the crew for their courage and commitment to exploration.
“This is a great honor, to be with you is a great honor and I just want to thank Jessica, Anil, Jack, great Americans, great patriots, brave people,” Trump said during the conversation.
Reflecting on the dangers associated with space missions, Trump said he personally would not want to undertake such a journey, while acknowledging that astronauts were driven by a passion for exploration.
“I wouldn’t do it. I will tell you right now, I hate to admit it, I would not want to do it, but some people love it more than anything,” he said.
Trump specifically highlighted the achievements of Menon, Meir and Hathaway, noting that their selection for the mission itself represented a significant accomplishment.
Menon, a colonel in the US Space Force, told Trump that he was proud to serve the country and described his recent spacewalk as one of the highlights of his mission. He said the experience gave him an opportunity to observe the space station from its robotic arm and witness what he called the extraordinary ingenuity of human engineering.
“Last week, I got the great honor of doing a spacewalk and got to look at the space station from the robotic arm and saw the incredible ingenuity that we are capable of,” Menon said.
The astronaut also expressed enthusiasm about the United States’ plans to expand human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. He said current efforts would help prepare the way for future missions to the Moon, the establishment of a lunar base and eventual journeys to Mars.
“We are going to pave the way to our next journey to the Moon, Moon Base and Mars,” Menon told Trump.
Menon’s wife, Anna Menon, also joined the president at the Johnson Space Center and briefly spoke with the astronauts during the call. She offered encouragement to the crew, saying she and others were proud of their work.
Trump’s conversation with the astronauts came after he announced plans for a proposed US Space Academy. He said the institution would be established at the same prestigious level as the country’s leading military academies, including West Point, the US Naval Academy, the US Coast Guard Academy and the US Air Force Academy.
“If we’re going to do it, it has to be at that very high level. Those are among the hardest schools to get into in the whole country,” Trump said.
The president also highlighted his role in establishing the US Space Force during his first term in office. He argued that space-based intelligence and capabilities had become increasingly important to US military operations and would gain even greater significance as technology advances.
“You’re really pioneers. In a true sense, they’re really pioneers,” Trump told the astronauts.
Hathaway, a graduate of the US Naval Academy, said the institution would be prepared to support the proposed Space Academy. Meir, meanwhile, told Trump that the crew was carrying out a series of spacewalks and preparing for another one the following week.
Trump ended the conversation by congratulating the astronauts and urging them to return safely to Earth. He also extended an invitation for the crew to visit the White House after completing their mission.
“Great job. Very proud. We’re going to see you when you get back. In fact, if you want, Oval Office time, right?” Trump said before adding, “We’ll see you in the Oval Office.”
Menon has a distinctive background that connects the US space programme with Indian heritage. Born and raised in Minneapolis to Indian and Ukrainian immigrant parents, he was selected by NASA in its 2021 astronaut candidate class.
Before becoming an astronaut, Menon served as SpaceX’s first flight surgeon and worked as a NASA crew flight surgeon, supporting missions involving the International Space Station. His medical and aerospace experience played a significant role in his selection as an astronaut.
Menon launched aboard Russia’s Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft on July 14 alongside cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. According to NASA, the three-member crew is expected to spend approximately eight months aboard the orbital laboratory, conducting scientific research and technology demonstrations.
The crew is scheduled to return to Earth in April 2027, concluding a mission that combines scientific research, technological experimentation and preparations for the next generation of human space exploration.
