Anna Menon: SpaceX Engineer and Future Astronaut

Anna Menon is an American engineer scheduled to fly on Polaris Dawn, Anna worked for NASA for seven years before joining SpaceX, where she works as a lead engineer of space operations.   In this episode, Ben and Anna discuss the significance of Polaris Dawn, preparing mentally for a mission and SpaceX's vision for humanity in Space. This completes a fantastic set of interviews with each crew member of Polaris Dawn! Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsor: Dockside Vaults: www.docksidevaults.com We are proud to have Dockside Vaults as a sponsor for our podcast. Their support will enable us to continue bringing you insightful conversations with leading experts in the space industry. We share their commitment to promoting the space industry, and we look forward to collaborating with them on future events. If you're looking for a stunning venue for your next event, be sure to check out Dockside Vaults. Thank you, Dockside Vaults, for your support! OUTLINE: Here’s approximate timestamps for the episode. 00:40 Introduction to Anna Menon 01:14 Intensity of training 02:27 Finding out about selection - a memorable day! 04:24 Becoming an astronaut - surprises? 05:43 Interest in Space origin 08:53 Medical Officer 11:00 The worlds first commercial EVA 12:35 The team behind the mission 13:44 Kids 15:27 What to bring to space (and when) 16:46 Significance of Polaris Dawn 18:42 Preparing mentally for the mission 21:00 Typical day on Polaris Dawn 23:53 SpaceX’s vision 25:43 Advice to young people 28:02 What has Anna learnt about herself 29:50 Extra Curricula 32:44 Wrap up and socials Follow Anna Menon Twitter: https://twitter.com/annawmenon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annawmenon/ Website: https://polarisprogram.com/dawn/ Stay connected with us! Use #Astroben across various social media platforms to engage with us! (NEW - YOUTUBE): www.youtube.com/@astrobenpodcast Website: www.astroben.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrobenpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gambleonit LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/astrobenpodcast/