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NASA Delays ISS Spacewalk, Weighs Early Crew-11 Return After Astronaut Medical Issue

The agency reports the astronaut is stable, with another update expected within 24 hours.

Overview

  • The Jan. 8 spacewalk by Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman to prepare the 2A power channel for future roll-out solar arrays was postponed.
  • NASA says the concern involves a single, unnamed crew member who is stable, citing medical privacy for withholding further details.
  • Contingency planning now includes the possibility of ending Crew-11’s mission early using docked return vehicles such as the SpaceX Crew Dragon.
  • Other planned activities, including a Jan. 15 EVA and related maintenance, are under review as mission managers assess next steps.
  • Crew-11 consists of Fincke, Cardman, Japan’s Kimiya Yui and Russia’s Oleg Platonov; if they depart early, three other crewmates would continue ISS operations.