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NASA has announced that the Crew-11 astronauts will return from the International Space Station (ISS) earlier than planned due to a medical situation involving one of the crew members. The affected astronaut is stable, and NASA emphasizes that this is a precautionary measure, not an emergency evacuation.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, along with other officials, shared the decision during a news conference on Thursday (January 8). The agency has not disclosed the identity of the astronaut or the specific medical condition, citing privacy concerns. However, they confirmed that the issue is unrelated to space operations or injuries. The return will involve a splashdown of the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft, which initially launched Crew-11 to the ISS in August 2025.
The crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, was originally scheduled to stay aboard the ISS for about six months. Their early return marks the first medical evacuation in the ISS's 25-year history of continuous habitation.
Dr. James Polk, NASA's chief health and medical officer, explained that while the ISS is equipped with basic medical facilities, a complete medical workup requires the resources available on Earth. NASA is coordinating with SpaceX and international partners to expedite the launch of Crew-12, initially planned for February 15, to minimize disruption to ISS operations.
NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya highlighted the importance of crew safety and the complexity of operating the ISS. The decision to bring Crew-11 home early reflects NASA's commitment to prioritizing astronaut health. The agency also plans to use insights from this situation to inform future missions, including those to the moon and Mars.