Four astronauts are set to return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) more than a month ahead of schedule due to a medical issue affecting an unnamed crew member. NASA has not disclosed specific details about the medical concern, citing privacy regulations. However, the agency has confirmed that the affected astronaut is in stable condition and will not require special treatment during the return journey.
Dr. James Polk, NASA’s chief health and medical officer, stated during a news briefing that while the ISS is equipped with a strong range of medical hardware, it lacks the full capabilities of an emergency department. “In this particular incident, we would like to complete the medical evaluation on the ground,” Polk explained. He emphasized that the best environment for thorough assessment is on Earth.
Details of the Early Return
The returning astronauts include American crew members Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, as well as Kimiya Yui from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Oleg Platonov from Roscosmos. This group forms part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission, which was initially expected to conclude in mid-February 2024. Typically, NASA would wait for another crew to be in place before bringing a team back to Earth.
Jared Isaacman, NASA’s newly appointed administrator and a veteran of two private SpaceX missions, made the decision to expedite the return. He noted that four additional astronauts are scheduled to launch to the ISS as part of NASA’s Crew-12 mission in the coming weeks, and the agency is looking into ways to expedite that launch.
The Crew-11 team is expected to depart the ISS within “days,” Isaacman confirmed.
Impact on ISS Operations
The announcement of the astronaut’s medical issue was made on Wednesday, coinciding with the postponement of a scheduled spacewalk due to the concern. NASA stated in a press release, “These are the situations NASA and our partners train for and prepare to execute safely.”
Once the Crew-11 astronauts return, only one NASA astronaut will remain aboard the ISS: Chris Williams. He arrived at the space station in late November 2023 via a Russian Soyuz capsule as part of a ride-sharing agreement between the United States and Russia. NASA officials expressed confidence in Williams’ ability to manage any tasks while awaiting the arrival of the Crew-12 astronauts, who will restore staffing levels to normal.
“This is one of the reasons why we fly mixed crews on Soyuz and US vehicles. We want to ensure we have operators for both the US and Russian segments of the space station,” stated Amit Kshatriya, NASA’s associate administrator.
As this situation unfolds, NASA continues to uphold its commitment to safety and effective management of its space missions.
