Crew-11 Astronauts Set for ISS Medical Evacuation Wednesday

Four astronauts aboard the International Space Station are packing up and getting ready to head home early. The Crew-11 team faces a medical evacuation after one member fell ill on January 7. NASA made the call on January 8 to bring them back aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule. They plan to undock from the station on Wednesday, January 14, at 5 p.m. EST and splash down off the California coast early Thursday, January 15.

Background

The International Space Station has seven astronauts right now. Four of them make up the Crew-11 mission. They launched months ago on a SpaceX Crew Dragon named Endeavour. Their stay was set to last longer, about a month more. But everything changed on January 7 when one astronaut had a medical problem. NASA checked with doctors and partners from other space agencies. They decided the best step was to send the whole crew home for better care on Earth.

This marks the first time in ISS history that a crew is leaving early for medical reasons. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman called it a serious condition. The astronaut is stable now. NASA is keeping the name private to protect medical privacy. The issue happened just before a planned spacewalk. Crew-11 had been doing science experiments, maintenance, and other station work. They handed over command of the station on January 12. Edward Fincke, the outgoing commander, passed the role to Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov.

Three astronauts will stay behind. They are Kud-Sverchkov, fellow cosmonaut Sergei Mikaev, and NASA astronaut Chris Williams. The station keeps running with them in charge. NASA says this early return will not delay other big plans like the Artemis 2 moon mission.

Key Details

Crew-11 includes commander Zena Cardman, Edward Fincke, Japan's Kimiya Yui, and Russia's Oleg Platonov. One of them had the medical issue. NASA says it is not an injury. The crew has tested their spacesuits and started packing gear. The Dragon spacecraft is docked at the Harmony module's dorsal port. It is ready for the trip back.

Timeline for Return

Here is the step-by-step plan as of now:

• January 14, no earlier than 5 p.m. EST: Undock from ISS.
• Follow standard procedures for separation and deorbit burn.
• Early January 15: Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California.

Teams on the ground watch weather closely. Recovery ships wait in the area. The trip home follows normal SpaceX steps, even if the departure is early. NASA says the ill astronaut needs no special help during reentry. The crew leaves behind a full workload for the remaining team, but they have trained them well.

"We're leaving you all with a lot of work, but also with a lot of knowledge knowing that you guys are really going to do super well." – Edward Fincke to Sergey Kud-Sverchkov

What This Means

This evacuation shows how NASA handles health risks in space. Space is tough on the body. Things like low gravity, radiation, and closed quarters can lead to problems. Past missions had medical issues, but none led to an early crew return like this. Experts say it sets a new mark for safety. The agency talked it over with partners from Japan, Russia, and others before acting.

The move gets the crew quick access to full hospitals on Earth. Station doctors can treat basics, but ground care is better for serious cases. Crew-11 cuts their mission short by over a month. They still completed key tasks. The Dragon capsule will go through checks after splashdown. SpaceX teams help with recovery.

For the ISS, work goes on. The three staying astronauts handle daily operations. A new crew arrives later to keep the station at full strength. NASA stresses the station is safe and missions stay on track. This event tests emergency plans that could matter for longer trips, like to the moon or Mars. Ground control stays in close touch with the crew as they prep. Weather could shift the exact times, but the plan holds firm. The focus stays on getting everyone home safe.