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41m ago

NASA, SpaceX To Undock Crew-11 Today for First ISS Medical Evacuation

NASA cites the need for ground-based diagnostics, with the astronaut reported stable.

iss074e0001091 (Dec. 12, 2025) --- The seven-member Expedition 74 crew gathers for a portrait inside the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory module. In the front row, from left, are Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Mikaev and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, along with NASA astronaut Chris Williams. In the back row are JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, and NASA astronaut Zena Cardman. Kud-Sverchkov (center) was celebrating 200 cumulative days in space with a slice of cake.
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The four crew members of NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station train inside a Dragon training crew spacecraft at SpaceX in Hawthorne, California. From left to right: Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, and JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui.

Overview

  • Undocking is targeted for no earlier than 5:05 p.m. ET today, with splashdown off California expected around 3:41 a.m. ET Thursday, pending weather and recovery conditions.
  • The early return is the first time an ISS crew has been sent home for a medical reason, and officials stress it is a deliberate, non-emergency procedure.
  • All four Crew-11 members—Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui, and Oleg Platonov—will ride SpaceX Dragon back to Earth following a change of command to Sergey Kud-Sverchkov.
  • NASA is not identifying the affected astronaut or disclosing medical details under privacy protocols, and the agency’s chief medical officer says required diagnostics exceed ISS capabilities.
  • Station operations will temporarily shift with U.S. spacewalks paused, three crew remaining on orbit including NASA’s Chris Williams, and NASA evaluating earlier launch opportunities for Crew-12; live coverage and a post-splashdown briefing are planned.