Sick astronaut, rest of crew undock from ISS ahead of expected return to Earth, NASA says

NASA’s International Space Station (ISS) crew, which includes an astronaut who fell ill, is set to return to Earth on Thursday morning. The decision to end the current mission was made out of caution due to a medical emergency involving one of the astronauts on board.

During a press conference on Jan. 8, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced that the crew, known as Crew-11, would be returning to Earth ahead of schedule. The crew undocked from the ISS on Wednesday evening and is expected to splash down off the coast of California early Thursday morning.

The astronauts spent their last day on the ISS preparing for their return, packing cargo, reviewing return procedures, and transferring hardware. They will be returning to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon Endeavor, the same spacecraft that brought them to the station.

Despite the emergency situation, an evacuation was not deemed necessary as the astronaut’s condition was stable. Dr. James “JD” Polk confirmed during the press conference that the astronaut remains in stable condition.

Crew-11’s mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which collaborates with private companies to transport astronauts to and from the ISS. The crew consists of two American astronauts, a Japanese astronaut, and a Roscosmos cosmonaut. They arrived at the ISS on Aug. 1 and were originally scheduled to stay until mid-to-late February.

This mission marks the 11th crew rotation mission of SpaceX’s human space transportation system and its 12th flight with astronauts. In November, the crew celebrated the 25th anniversary of the first crew’s arrival at the ISS.

NASA has not disclosed the identity of the affected astronaut or provided details about their condition for privacy reasons. This medical emergency marks the first time in 25 years that a medical evacuation has been necessary on the ISS.

The decision to postpone a planned spacewalk with the American astronauts on Jan. 8 was made in light of the unfolding situation. The crew’s safe return to Earth is a testament to the collaborative efforts of NASA and its partners in ensuring the well-being of astronauts in space missions.