NASA to return Crew-11 early after medical issue aboard space station
NASA has decided to return its Crew-11 astronauts from the International Space Station ahead of schedule after one crewmember experienced a medical issue while in orbit, according to agency officials. The astronaut is stable.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said during a press conference on Thursday that the medical situation occurred on Wednesday. “Yesterday, a single crewmember on board the International Space Station experienced a medical situation and is now stable,” Isaacman said.
After consultations with NASA’s medical leadership, Isaacman said he approved an early return of Crew-11.
The NASA administrator said the SpaceX Dragon Endeavor spacecraft will depart the space station within the coming days carrying Crew-11 Commander Zena Cardman, pilot Mike Fincke, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.
Isaacman said NASA expects to provide an update within 48 hours on the undocking and reentry timeline.
Crew-11 has spent more than five months aboard the station, contributing to daily operations, conducting scientific research, and completing most of its mission objectives, he said, adding that Crew-12 is currently scheduled to launch as soon as mid-February, though NASA is evaluating whether an earlier launch opportunity is possible.
In the interim, NASA astronaut Chris Williams will remain aboard the station to maintain the United States’ presence and support operations.
Amit Kshatriya, NASA’s associate administrator, said agency crews are trained extensively to manage unexpected medical situations and described the response as “a textbook example of that training in action.”
Kshatriya said the early return marks the first time NASA has carried out what he described as a controlled medical evacuation from the station.
He noted that with only one U.S. astronaut remaining aboard, NASA will not conduct planned or contingency U.S. spacewalks, which he said carries a “slightly” elevated operational risk.
NASA Chief Health and Medical Officer James D. Polk said he would not discuss the identity of the astronaut or the specific diagnosis, citing medical privacy.
“The astronaut is absolutely stable,” Polk said. He explained that the medical issue was significant enough to warrant further evaluation and that the best way to complete that assessment is on the ground, where full medical testing capabilities are available. Polk added that the medical issues was not related to any station operations.
Polk said that while medical models have long suggested the possibility of an ISS medical evacuation roughly every three years, none has occurred in the station’s 25-year history. “Even in this case, we are erring on the side of caution,” Polk said.
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