Four NASA astronauts will return from the International Space Station (ISS) more than a month ahead of schedule. The early return follows a medical issue experienced by one of the crew members.
NASA has not shared specific details about the medical condition, citing privacy concerns. The agency confirmed the affected astronaut is in stable condition. Dr. James Polk, NASA’s chief health and medical officer, explained that while the ISS has advanced medical equipment, it cannot provide the full care available in a hospital.
“In this particular incident, we want to complete that workup. The best way to do that is on the ground,” Polk said.
The returning team, SpaceX Crew-11, includes NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced that the crew would return home within days.
To maintain adequate staffing on the ISS, NASA will expedite the launch of the Crew-12 mission, which was originally scheduled for mid-February. In the meantime, NASA astronaut Chris Williams will remain the only U.S. representative aboard the station, working alongside Russian colleagues.
A postponed spacewalk earlier this week first signaled a potential medical issue. Health concerns in space are uniquely challenging because of limited diagnostic tools and the harsh environment. NASA emphasized that protecting crew privacy is a consistent practice, as seen in a similar incident in October 2024.
NASA officials said the early return of the NASA astronauts highlights the agency’s focus on crew health and safety. They also noted that the ISS team is highly trained to handle medical emergencies in orbit, but certain evaluations are best completed on Earth.
This situation underscores the importance of health monitoring for space missions and demonstrates NASA’s commitment to protecting astronauts while continuing scientific operations on the ISS.
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