NASA has scheduled an unprecedented medical evacuation from the International Space Station (ISS) for next week, marking a first in the orbiting laboratory's quarter-century history.
Timeline for an Unplanned Return
The US space agency confirmed on social media that it aims to undock the affected crew no earlier than 5pm EST on Wednesday, 14 January. The goal is for their spacecraft to touch down near California in the early hours of Thursday, 15 January, with the exact timing dependent on weather and recovery team conditions.
This decision follows a briefing where NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman explained the rationale. "After discussions with chief health and medical officer Dr James Polk and leadership across the agency, I've come to the decision that it's in the best interest of our astronauts to return Crew-11 ahead of their planned departure," Isaacman stated. He emphasised that "This was a serious medical condition. That is why we're pursuing this path."
A Serious but Stable Condition
The agency has not disclosed the identity of the ill astronaut or the specific nature of the medical problem, citing strict patient privacy protocols. However, officials have provided crucial context about the situation's urgency.
"Because the astronaut is absolutely stable, this is not an emergent evacuation," explained Dr James Polk. "We're not immediately disembarking and getting the astronaut down, but it leaves that lingering risk and lingering question as to what that diagnosis is, and that means there is some lingering risk for that astronaut onboard."
The medical issue has also caused NASA to cancel its first planned spacewalk of the year.
The Crew and the Station's Future
The returning Crew-11 mission arrived at the ISS in August aboard a SpaceX capsule. The team is led by US commander Zena Cardman and includes NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.
Three other crew members will remain aboard the station: US astronaut Chris Williams and Russia's Sergei Mikayev and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov. They will continue the station's ongoing scientific and operational work.
This historic evacuation occurs as NASA plans for the ISS's eventual retirement. The agency intends to bring the ageing and costly station out of orbit by late 2030 or early 2031.
