Source TOI
HOUSTON — In a landmark decision marking a first in the quarter-century history of the International Space Station (ISS), NASA has confirmed it will medically evacuate the four-member Crew-11 mission this week. The agency, alongside partner SpaceX, is accelerating the return of the crew following the emergence of a “serious medical condition” affecting one of its astronauts.
The evacuation, which NASA describes as a “controlled expedited return” rather than an emergency de-orbit, comes after a medical issue was identified on January 7. The incident initially led to the abrupt cancellation of a high-profile spacewalk.
Return Schedule & Viewing Details
NASA and SpaceX are closely monitoring weather and sea states for the return of the Dragon Endeavour spacecraft. The current window for the historic return is as follows:
Undocking: Wednesday, January 14, at 5:00 PM EST (2:00 PM PST)
Splashdown: Thursday, January 15, at approximately 3:40 AM EST (12:40 AM PST)
Landing Zone: The Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California.
Where to Watch
Live coverage will be available via NASA+, the NASA app, and the agency’s official YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) channels.
Hatch Closing Coverage: Begins Wednesday at 3:00 PM EST.
Splashdown Coverage: Resumes Thursday at 2:15 AM EST.
Post-Landing Briefing: Scheduled for approximately 5:45 AM EST.
Mission Details and Crew
The Crew-11 team has been aboard the station since August 2, 2025. While their mission was originally slated to last through March 2026, all four members must return early because the Dragon capsule serves as the designated “lifeboat” for the entire team.
Astronaut Agency Role
Zena Cardman NASA Mission Commander
Mike Fincke NASA Pilot / Outgoing ISS Commander
Kimiya Yui JAXA Mission Specialist
Oleg Platonov Roscosmos Mission Specialist
Note on Health: NASA has not identified the affected individual, citing medical privacy. However, Chief Health and Medical Officer Dr. James Polk confirmed the astronaut is “absolutely stable,” but requires diagnostic tools and treatment currently unavailable in microgravity.
Impact on ISS Operations
The early departure will leave the ISS with a “skeleton crew” of just three members: NASA’s Chris Williams and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev.
On Monday, January 12, Mike Fincke formally handed over command of the station to Kud-Sverchkov in a bittersweet ceremony. To restore the station to its full seven-person capacity, NASA is currently evaluating whether the launch of Crew-12 can be moved up from its original mid-February date.
This event highlights the evolving challenges of long-duration spaceflight. While the ISS is equipped with advanced first-aid and tele-medical capabilities, this evacuation serves as a reminder of the inherent risks of living 250 miles above Earth.
