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Crew-11 Returns to Earth After First Medical-Driven Early Evacuation From the ISS

NASA cites diagnostic uncertainty for the early return.

Overview

  • A SpaceX Dragon capsule splashed down off the California coast around 08:41 GMT on January 15 after the crew left the station the day before.
  • The returning astronauts are NASA’s Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, RoscosmosOleg Platonov, and JAXA’s Kimiya Yui.
  • NASA has not identified the affected astronaut or detailed the condition, stating the person is stable and the departure was not an emergency evacuation.
  • Officials pointed to a persistent risk and limits of in-orbit diagnostics as factors in the decision, marking a first in the station’s more than 25 years of operations.
  • The ISS remains staffed by one American and two Russians as NASA evaluates moving up the Crew-12 rotation, which includes French astronaut Sophie Adenot.