Four astronauts return to Earth after ISS medical evacuation

Four astronauts are heading home after an earlier-than-scheduled departure from the International Space Station, a move NASA described as a "controlled medical evacuation," the first such exit from the I.S.S. in 25 years.

The crew undocked around 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday and rode a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. NASA said the return was moved up after a medical issue involving one crew member last week; the four were originally scheduled to depart next month after a replacement crew arrived. At 2:51 a.m. Eastern the capsule fired thrusters to drop out of orbit and is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific near San Diego at about 3:41 a.m. Eastern (12:41 a.m. Pacific).

The returning astronauts are Zena Cardman and Michael Fincke of NASA, Kimiya Yui of JAXA and Oleg Platonov of Roscosmos. NASA has not disclosed who was ill or the nature of the medical issue, saying only that the affected astronaut is stable; during live coverage all four appeared to be in good shape. Officials said the return is not an emergency and is following usual procedures, though astronauts will experience forces equivalent to several times gravity during re-entry.

NASA said the capsule will be recovered by ship, the crew examined by doctors and flown to shore by helicopter, and it will hold a news conference at 5:45 a.m. What remains undisclosed is the identity of the sick astronaut and the specifics of the medical condition.

Key Topics

Science, Nasa, International Space Station, Crew Dragon, Medical Evacuation, Zena Cardman