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NASA Sets Crew-11’s Early Return From ISS for Jan. 14–15 After On‑Orbit Medical Issue

A controlled expedited return enables doctors to perform diagnostics not possible on the station.

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(Image Credit: JAXA/Kimiya Yui/NASA)
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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts sit within their Dragon spacecraft just before launch on Aug. 1, 2025, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Overview

  • Undocking is targeted no earlier than 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 14, with splashdown off California expected around 3:40 a.m. ET on Jan. 15, subject to weather and recovery readiness.
  • The affected Crew-11 astronaut remains stable and unidentified in keeping with medical privacy rules, according to NASA.
  • Officials say this will be the space station’s first controlled medical evacuation and not an emergency deorbit.
  • NASA’s chief medical officer said the condition is unrelated to station operations or spacewalk preparations and needs ground-based equipment for a full workup.
  • NASA is assessing whether to advance the Crew‑12 launch to restore staffing, and American astronaut Chris Williams will be the only U.S. crew member aboard after Crew‑11 departs.