Washington [USA], January 15 (ANI): In an unprecedented move in the more than 25-year history of the International Space Station (ISS), NASA’s four astronauts aboard SpaceX’s Crew-11 mission have closed the hatch of their Dragon spacecraft and prepared to undock early as part of the first planned medical evacuation from the station.
Crew-11’s departure follows a medical concern involving one crew member, prompting mission managers to bring the entire team back to Earth sooner than originally scheduled. The mission, which launched in August 2025 for a planned six- to eight-month science expedition, was shortened to allow for advanced medical evaluation and care on Earth.
The crew—NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov—sealed the hatch of their spacecraft at approximately 3:30 p.m. local time, ahead of undocking later that afternoon.
NASA mission officials confirmed that the affected astronaut is stable and conscious, but said further evaluation on Earth is the safest course of action. The early return also led to the postponement of some station activities, including a scheduled spacewalk, as teams focused on preparing for the crew’s departure, according to CBS.
After undocking, the Crew-11 Dragon capsule, named Endeavour, is set to conduct a series of departure burns to move away from the ISS before beginning its approximately 10- to 11-hour journey back to Earth. The spacecraft is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California early on January 15 local time, where recovery teams are on standby.
The early return marks a significant moment for human spaceflight operations. While NASA and SpaceX’s Commercial Crew Program has repeatedly demonstrated reliable astronaut transport to and from orbit, this is the first time an ISS crewed mission has been shortened due to a medical issue rather than operational or technical factors.
NASA officials reiterated that crew safety remains the agency’s top priority, with protocols in place to support astronaut health both in orbit and during expedited returns when required. Meanwhile, the ISS continues to be staffed by other astronauts who will carry on scientific research and station operations until the arrival of new crew members later this year. (ANI)
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