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NASA’s Crew-11 Leaves ISS for Early Return After Astronaut Falls Ill

NASA describes the early return as a precaution due to a non‑trauma medical issue with one astronaut.

Overview

  • The Crew-11 capsule has undocked from the International Space Station and is scheduled to splash down off California at 03:41 ET on January 15.
  • NASA’s chief medical officer said the condition is stable, not related to an on‑orbit injury, and the flight home is not an emergency evacuation.
  • The agency has not named the affected crew member, citing standard medical privacy practices.
  • Crew-11 includes Zena Cardman, Mike Fink, Kimiya Yui, and Oleg Platonov, who arrived in August 2025 and had been slated to return in May 2026.
  • Station operations continue with remaining crew members, and mission planners expect the Crew-12 rotation to begin in mid‑February, supported by established onboard medical equipment and training.