Four astronauts will return from the International Space Station more than a month ahead of schedule after an unnamed crew member experienced a medical issue, marking the first time in history NASA has brought astronauts home early from the space station due to health concerns. NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. EST on Wednesday, January 14, for undocking, with splashdown scheduled for 3:40 a.m. EST on Thursday, January 15.
The returning crew includes American astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. They were launched to the International Space Station on August 1 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and were originally scheduled to remain until mid-February.
NASA officials have confirmed that the affected crew member is stable, emphasizing that the evacuation is not considered an emergency. Rather, the decision was made to err on the side of caution for the affected astronaut's health and welfare. The agency has not disclosed the nature of the medical problem, citing privacy concerns, which is standard protocol for astronaut health matters.
Newly appointed NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, who has twice flown to orbit on private SpaceX missions, made the call to bring the group home early. Isaacman stated that the agency would evaluate whether to accelerate the Crew-12 mission, which is currently scheduled to launch in mid-February. The decision underscores NASA's commitment to crew safety over mission completion.
When the Crew-11 astronauts return, only one NASA astronaut, Chris Williams, will remain aboard the space station. Williams arrived at the ISS in late November aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule. NASA is working with international partners to ensure continued station operations during the reduced crew period, while preparing contingency plans if an earlier Crew-12 launch becomes necessary.
Comments