At a Glance
- NASA scrapped Thursday’s first spacewalk of 2025 after an astronaut developed an undisclosed medical problem
- The affected crew member is now in stable condition aboard the International Space Station
- Mission managers are weighing an early return for the four-person crew that launched from Florida last August
- Why it matters: A potential early landing would cut short science operations and reshape flight schedules months ahead of the station’s planned 2030 retirement
NASA has hit pause on its 2025 spacewalk schedule and could bring the current International Space Station crew home early after an astronaut experienced a medical issue in orbit.
Spacewalk Canceled
The agency called off Thursday’s planned spacewalk when an unidentified crew member reported a medical concern. Officials have not disclosed the nature of the problem, citing privacy rules.
NASA spokesperson Cheryl Warner emphasized safety first:
> “Safely conducting our missions is our highest priority.”
The crew member is now listed as stable, but flight surgeons are continuing evaluations around the clock.
Mission Options Under Review
With the station’s U.S.-Japanese-Russian quartet already five months into their stay, managers are studying every option:
- Proceed with normal timeline once doctors clear the astronaut
- Compress remaining research tasks and re-enter ahead of schedule
- Swap crew rotations if the situation requires a fresh team
A decision is expected within days, NASA said.
| Option | Impact |
|---|---|
| Stay on track | Maintains science output |
| Early return | Delays some experiments |
| Crew swap | Adds logistics complexity |
Key Takeaways
- First spacewalk of 2025 postponed indefinitely
- One astronaut under medical observation; condition stable
- Early homecoming still only one of several paths forward
Any change would ripple through upcoming cargo flights and future crew launches as the agency balances astronaut health with orbital research goals.
