An astronaut who fell sick or was injured on Jan. 7 has returned to Earth with three crewmates, ending their space station mission more than a month early in NASA’s first medical evacuation.
At a Glance
- An astronaut became ill or was hurt on Jan. 7, forcing NASA to cancel a planned spacewalk
- The four-person Crew-11 splashed down in the Pacific near San Diego less than 11 hours after leaving the International Space Station
- NASA has not identified the affected astronaut or specified the medical issue, citing privacy rules
- Why it matters: The early return leaves the station with minimal crew and delays spacewalks until the next launch in February
The Crew Dragon capsule, guided by SpaceX, touched down in darkness near San Diego early Thursday. NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, serving as capsule commander, radioed: “It’s so good to be home.”
Mission Timeline
| Event | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Astronaut falls ill/injured | Jan. 7, 2025 | – |
| Launch postponed | Aug. 2024 | – |
| Undocking from ISS | Early Thursday | – |
| Splashdown | Early Thursday | <11 hrs after undock |
Cardman was joined on the return by NASA’s Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Russia’s Oleg Platonov. The quartet launched in August for what was planned as a six-month mission.
What NASA Has Revealed
- Officials say the astronaut remained stable while in orbit
- NASA wanted the crew back on Earth “as soon as possible” for proper care and diagnostic testing
- No special changes were made to the entry or splashdown procedures
- The recovery ship carried its usual medical team
The agency stressed repeatedly over the past week that the situation was “not an emergency.”
Impact on the Space Station
- The departure leaves the ISS with one American and two Russian cosmonauts
- NASA says it cannot conduct a spacewalk, even for an emergency, until the next crew arrives
- The next crew-two Americans, one French, and one Russian astronaut-is currently targeted to launch in mid-February
NASA and SpaceX are now working to accelerate that launch date.
Historical Context
- This marks the first time NASA has shortened a spaceflight for medical reasons
- The Russian space program conducted similar evacuations decades ago
- The station has previously operated with as few as two or three astronauts
Next Steps
It is not yet known when the returning astronauts will fly from California to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Platonov’s travel plans back to Moscow also remain unclear.
Key Takeaways
- An undisclosed medical issue on Jan. 7 triggered NASA’s first early crew return
- The capsule landed safely with no reported complications
- The station’s reduced staffing level limits operations until the next launch
- NASA continues to withhold the affected astronaut’s identity and condition details
