NASA to Bring Crew-11 Home Early From International Space Station After Medical Issue

NASA said it will bring a four-person Crew-11 team home from the International Space Station ahead of schedule because of a "controlled medical evacuation," the agency announced Thursday. NASA did not identify which astronaut or disclose the nature of the medical issue, but said the astronaut was in "absolutely stable" condition.

The four aboard Crew-11—Zena Cardman and Michael Fincke of NASA; Kimiya Yui of JAXA; and Oleg Platonov of Roscosmos—had launched in August and were expected to conclude their mission next month after Crew-12 arrived. The agency canceled a planned spacewalk and said it was erring on the side of caution.

Dr. James Polk, NASA’s chief health and medical officer, said the diagnosis was unknown and left a "lingering risk," and officials said the medical matter was unrelated to the spacewalk or station operations. After Crew-11 departs, three astronauts—Christopher Williams of NASA and Russia’s Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikaev—will remain on the station and likely reduce the amount of scientific work they conduct.

A timeline for the return is expected in the next 48 hours, with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean west of San Diego following usual procedures.

Key Topics

Science, Nasa, International Space Station, Spacex, Crew Dragon, Michael Fincke