WEB DESK: Four NASA astronauts will be coming back from the International Space Station (ISS) ahead of schedule following a medical concern involving one of the crew members.
While NASA has not revealed specifics about the health issue, citing privacy reasons, officials confirmed that the astronaut in question is in stable condition. Dr. James Polk, NASA’s Chief Health and Medical Officer, noted that although the ISS is equipped with advanced medical tools, it does not have the full range of emergency hospital capabilities.
“To properly address this situation, we need to conduct a thorough assessment on the ground,” Polk explained.
The crew, part of SpaceX’s Crew-11 mission, includes NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced that the team will return within a few days. To prepare for their early departure, NASA is accelerating the launch of the Crew-12 mission, initially slated for mid-February.
Meanwhile, NASA astronaut Chris Williams will remain on the station, working alongside his Russian counterparts.
The decision to postpone a scheduled spacewalk on Wednesday was an initial indicator of a health issue aboard the ISS. Managing health emergencies in space remains a significant challenge due to the environment’s harshness and limited medical resources. This situation continues NASA’s tradition of safeguarding crew member privacy; similar to an incident in October 2024 when a Crew-8 member was hospitalized after an unspecified health event, with details kept confidential.
