Four astronauts are being evacuated from the International Space Station due to a crew member experiencing a “serious medical condition.” Footage captured the members of Crew-11 entering the Dragon Endeavour spacecraft before the hatch to the space station was sealed. NASA has decided to cut short the mission on the ISS following the medical emergency, with the US-Japanese-Russian crew set to return to Earth earlier than scheduled.
The evacuation was prompted by a health issue affecting one of the astronauts, leading NASA to cancel its first spacewalk of the year. The agency has not disclosed the identity of the astronaut or the specific medical problem out of respect for privacy, but confirmed that the crew member is in stable condition.
The returning crew, consisting of NASA’s Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Russia’s Oleg Platonov, arrived at the space station in August for a planned six-month stay. Their spacecraft is expected to touch down on Earth at 8:41 am UK time.
This marks the first evacuation from the ISS in 25 years due to a health issue, underscoring the rigorous medical assessments astronauts undergo before space travel. The station is equipped with essential medical supplies, including over 200 drugs, an ultrasound machine, defibrillator, and intravenous therapy kit.
Fincke and Cardman were slated to conduct a spacewalk to prepare for installing new solar panels on the space station to enhance power supply. While this mission marks Fincke’s fourth space station visit and Yui’s second, it is the first spaceflight for Cardman and Platonov.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman commended the agency’s rapid response to ensure the astronauts’ safety. Meanwhile, three other astronauts are currently aboard the ISS, including NASA’s Chris Williams and Russia’s Sergei Mikaev and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, who are scheduled to return to Earth in the summer after an eight-month stay.