At a Glance
- Crew-11 astronauts will undock from the ISS at 5 p.m. ET Wednesday after an undisclosed medical issue
- This marks the first medical evacuation in 25 years of ISS operations
- Splashdown off California coast scheduled for 3:40 a.m. ET Thursday
- Why it matters: The emergency return tests NASA’s long-planned evacuation protocols and highlights the risks of human spaceflight
For the first time in the International Space Station’s quarter-century history, a crew is returning to Earth early because of a medical emergency. NASA’s Crew-11 team will cut their mission short after one member fell ill on January 7, forcing an unprecedented evacuation.
The Medical Emergency That Changed Everything
The four-person crew – NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov – had planned to stay aboard the ISS until mid-February. Instead, they’ll depart no earlier than 5 p.m. ET Wednesday.
NASA has refused to identify which crew member became ill or reveal any details about their condition. Agency officials have only confirmed the astronaut remains stable. The decision to evacuate came after medical personnel determined the crew member needed diagnostic capabilities only available on Earth.
Fincke addressed the situation in a LinkedIn post Sunday: “First and foremost, we are all OK. Everyone on board is stable, safe, and well cared for. This was a deliberate decision to allow the right medical evaluations to happen on the ground, where the full range of diagnostic capability exists. It’s the right call, even if it’s a bit bittersweet.”
Preparing for Departure
The crew faces a packed schedule as they ready for emergency departure. They’re checking spacesuit fits, packing personal items, and maintaining normal ISS operations including spacesuit maintenance and research tasks.
Their departure leaves behind Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev plus NASA astronaut Chris Williams, who will complete their six-month mission that began in late November.
Monday afternoon, Fincke transferred command to Kud-Sverchkov during a formal ceremony. “I thank you all very much for your hard work, for your assistance, and for all the fantastic science and exploration that we worked on together. It was really fun,” Fincke told his crewmates. “Some of the jokes weren’t so good, but I’ll keep trying.”
Timeline for Return
The evacuation follows a precise timeline subject to weather conditions:
Wednesday, January 14
- 3:00 p.m. ET: Hatch closure coverage begins
- 3:30 p.m. ET: Hatch closing
- 4:45 p.m. ET: Undocking coverage begins
- 5:00 p.m. ET: Undocking
Thursday, January 15
- 2:15 a.m. ET: Return coverage begins
- 2:50 a.m. ET: Deorbit burn
- 3:40 a.m. ET: Splashdown off California coast
- 5:45 a.m. ET: Return to Earth media conference
A SpaceX recovery vessel will retrieve the Dragon capsule and crew. Medical personnel aboard will examine the astronauts immediately after capsule exit.
A Historic First
This medical evacuation represents a milestone NASA hoped would never come. The agency has prepared for this scenario since the first ISS crew launched 25 years ago. Statistically, such evacuations should occur about once every three years, according to NASA Chief Health and Medical Officer Dr. James Polk.
The incident forced cancellation of Fincke’s planned 10th spacewalk alongside Cardman, which would have tied him with Peggy Whitson for the most spacewalks by a NASA astronaut.
NASA will provide live coverage of the return flight through NASA+ and its YouTube channel, though specific broadcast links haven’t been released yet.
Key Takeaways
- Crew-11’s early return marks the first medical evacuation in ISS history
- The unidentified astronaut remains stable but needs Earth-based medical evaluation
- The incident validates NASA’s 25 years of evacuation planning and redundancy systems
- Three crew members remain aboard ISS to continue normal operations
