NASA has announced the evacuation of four astronauts, including two from the United States, one from Russia, and one from Japan, as a precautionary measure.
Officials reported an undisclosed health issue affecting one of the astronauts, but their condition is stable. As a result, the crew will return approximately one month earlier than originally scheduled.
NASA officials classified the operation as a “structured medical evacuation.”
NASA Director “Jared Isaacman” stated, “I have come to the decision that the best interests of the astronauts require the return of the Crew-11 crew before their scheduled departure.”
It is worth mentioning that these astronauts are part of the Crew-11, which arrived at the International Space Station in August aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
The crew consists of NASA astronauts “Zina Cardman” and “Michael Fincke”, Japanese astronaut “Kimiya Yui”, and Russian astronaut “Oleg Platonov.”
NASA has not disclosed details regarding the identity of the affected astronaut or the nature of their health issue, citing medical privacy laws.
However, Dr. “James Polk,” NASA’s Chief Medical Officer, confirmed that the astronaut’s condition is “completely stable.”
First Evacuation in NASA History
Due to the limited medical resources available at the International Space Station, “there remains an inherent risk and question about the diagnosis,” Polk explained to The New York Times. “This means there is some potential risk to the astronaut on board the station. Therefore, we always prioritize the health and safety of the astronaut.”
This is the first time in the twenty-five-year history of the International Space Station that a crew has returned early due to a health issue.
The spacecraft was originally scheduled to return next month after the arrival of the next crew. Now, the Crew-11 spacecraft is expected to land off the coast of California on Thursday morning, according to NASA.
After the departure of Crew-11, three astronauts will remain on board the International Space Station. NASA announced that the smaller crew will continue to operate the station, with potential limitations on some activities.
Earlier last week, NASA postponed a planned spacewalk due to a medical emergency. Officials confirmed that this condition was unrelated to spacewalks or station operations.
“Isaacman” said that:
- NASA and SpaceX are currently exploring the possibility of launching the next crew, known as Crew-12, earlier than scheduled.
- The early return of Crew-11 will not affect NASA’s upcoming Artemis 2 mission, which is scheduled to send astronauts around the Moon next month.
