NASA Completes First Medical Evacuation From ISS After Crew-11 Returns Early

NASA returned four astronauts from the International Space Station ahead of schedule due to a medical concern affecting one crew member, marking the agency’s first medical evacuation from orbit.

The Crew-11 mission undocked from the ISS on January 14, 2026, and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego at approximately 12:41 a.m. PST on January 15, 2026. The returning crew consisted of NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.

NASA stated that the identity of the affected astronaut and the specific medical issue have not been disclosed, citing medical privacy. The agency confirmed that the individual remains in stable condition at the time of the announcement.

A planned spacewalk scheduled for January 8, 2026, was canceled due to the medical situation. Following splashdown, SpaceX recovery teams retrieved the crew, who were then taken to a local hospital for evaluation before returning to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

What the numbers show

• The Crew-11 mission lasted 167 days in space, with 165 days aboard the ISS
• The crew completed more than 140 science experiments
• They traveled nearly 71 million miles and completed over 2,670 orbits of Earth

After the evacuation, three crew members remain on board the ISS: NASA astronaut Christopher Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikayev. NASA and SpaceX are working to accelerate the launch of Crew-12, which is currently targeted for mid-February 2026, to restore the station’s full staffing levels.

During their mission, the Crew-11 team conducted a range of scientific experiments and research activities. Their early return required adjustments to the ISS’s operational schedule and crew assignments.

The medical evacuation process involved coordination between NASA and SpaceX, including undocking procedures, splashdown operations, and post-landing medical evaluations. The agency has not provided further details on the medical concern but has stated that the crew’s health and safety remain a priority.

NASA’s handling of the event included canceling planned activities, ensuring medical evaluation upon return, and making arrangements for the continued staffing and operation of the ISS. The agency continues to monitor the health of the affected astronaut and has outlined plans to resume normal operations with the arrival of the next crew.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.