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SpaceX Dragon Splashes Down Off San Diego After NASA’s First Medically Driven ISS Early Return

NASA ordered an early return for Earth-based diagnostics, citing medical privacy.

Overview

  • The Crew-11 capsule undocked at 22:20 GMT on Jan. 14 and splashed down at 08:41 GMT on Jan. 15 after an approximately 10–11 hour descent assisted by four parachutes.
  • NASA says the affected astronaut remains in stable condition, and the agency has not identified the crew member or disclosed the diagnosis.
  • Recovery teams secured the Dragon, conducted initial medical checks on deck, and arranged transfer to a local hospital for further evaluation.
  • The early return prompted cancellation of a planned spacewalk and leaves the station temporarily staffed by three crew members under commander Sergey Kud-Sverchkov until Crew-12 arrives in mid-February.
  • Crew-11Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui, and Oleg Platonov—completed roughly 165 days aboard the ISS before the precautionary return.