NASA has announced that astronauts aboard the International Space Station could return to Earth as early as Thursday following a medical emergency. This early return marks the first ISS medical evacuation in the station’s history.
The US space agency confirmed that Crew-11, a joint NASA-SpaceX mission, is scheduled to undock no earlier than 5 pm ET on January 14. Splashdown off the coast of California is expected early January 15, depending on weather and recovery conditions.
Officials stated that the medical issue did not involve an injury onboard and that the affected crewmember is stable. The ISS medical evacuation ensures the astronaut receives proper care while maintaining mission safety. Details about the specific nature of the medical situation were not disclosed.
Crew-11 has been on the ISS since August 1, with the mission originally planned to last about six months. The returning crew includes American astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Russia’s Oleg Platonov. American Chris Williams will remain on the station to maintain a continuous US presence.
NASA also noted that the early return might accelerate the next US mission to the ISS, although no specific dates were provided. The space station has been continuously inhabited since 2000 and serves as a critical platform for research supporting long-duration space exploration, including future Mars missions.
This operation underscores NASA’s readiness to conduct an ISS medical evacuation whenever necessary, highlighting the importance of crew safety and emergency preparedness in space.
The ISS is expected to be decommissioned after 2030. Its orbit will gradually lower, leading to a controlled reentry and breakup over Point Nemo, a remote area in the Pacific Ocean known as the spacecraft graveyard.
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