SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts return to Earth early in NASA’s first medical evacuation

An astronaut who fell ill during a space station mission has returned to Earth along with three other crew members, cutting their mission short by more than a month in NASA’s first-ever medical evacuation. The SpaceX capsule carrying the astronauts made a middle-of-the-night splashdown in the Pacific near San Diego, less than 11 hours after they left the International Space Station.

NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, the capsule commander, expressed relief at being back home. The mission, which began in August, ended unexpectedly with only one American and two Russians remaining on the orbiting lab. NASA and SpaceX are now aiming to launch a fresh crew of four in mid-February to make up for the early return.

Alongside Cardman, the returning crew included NASA’s Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Russia’s Oleg Platonov. The identity of the ailing astronaut and the nature of the health issue have not been disclosed due to medical privacy concerns. While the astronaut’s condition was stable in orbit, NASA deemed it necessary to bring them back to Earth promptly for further medical care and testing.

The return and splashdown were smooth, with no special accommodations required. The recovery ship had medical experts on board to assist upon the crew’s return. Plans for the astronauts to travel from California to Houston and Platonov’s return to Moscow are still being finalized.

NASA emphasized that the situation was not an emergency, despite the early return. The astronaut fell ill or was injured on January 7, leading to the cancellation of a scheduled spacewalk and the decision to bring the crew back sooner than planned. This marks the first time NASA has shortened a spaceflight due to medical reasons, a move the Russians had made in the past.

The International Space Station has operated with three crew members before, and occasionally with just two. NASA noted that without the arrival of the next crew, which includes two Americans, one French, and one Russian astronaut, the station will be unable to perform spacewalks, even in emergencies.