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Sick Astronaut and Crew-11 Headed for Earth Return Thursday Morning
The NASA International Space Station (ISS) Crew-11, including an astronaut experiencing a medical situation, is on track to return to Earth early Thursday morning. The mission’s early conclusion was announced on January 8 by NASA, citing an abundance of caution for the astronaut’s well-being.
“I’ve come to the decision that it’s in the best interest of our astronauts to return Crew-11 ahead of their planned departure,” stated NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman during a January 8 press conference.
Crew-11 undocked from the ISS at 5:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
The SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft, which transported them to the station on August 1, is expected to splash down off the coast of California around 3:41 a.m. ET on Thursday.
Prior to undocking, the crew diligently prepared for their return by packing cargo, reviewing re-entry procedures, and transferring hardware aboard the ISS.
While the medical situation necessitated an early return, an emergency evacuation was not deemed necessary as the astronaut remains in stable condition, according to Dr. James “JD” Polk.
Due to privacy concerns, NASA has not disclosed the affected astronaut’s identity or specific medical details. This marks the first time in 25 years that a medical evacuation has been required from the ISS.
This unprecedented decision followed an earlier announcement by NASA to postpone a planned spacewalk involving two American astronauts, originally scheduled for the morning of January 8.
Crew-11, composed of two American astronauts, a Japanese astronaut, and a Roscosmos cosmonaut, was initially scheduled to remain on the ISS until mid-to-late February. This mission represents the 11th crew rotation mission under SpaceX’s human space transportation system and its 12th flight with astronauts, as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which partners with private companies for astronaut transport to and from the ISS. In November, the crew celebrated a significant milestone for the ISS: the 25th anniversary of the arrival of the station’s first crew.