Four astronauts are being evacuated from the International Space Station following a crew member’s serious medical condition. The crew members of Crew-11 were seen entering the Dragon Endeavour spacecraft before the space station hatch was sealed. NASA made the unusual decision to cut short the mission due to the medical issue, with the US-Japanese-Russian crew set to return to Earth earlier than planned.
The astronaut’s health problem led NASA to cancel its first spacewalk of the year, although the agency did not disclose the astronaut’s identity or the specific medical condition for privacy reasons. However, it was confirmed that the crew member is in stable condition.
The returning crew, consisting of NASA’s Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Russia’s Oleg Platonov, arrived at the ISS in August for a minimum six-month stay. Their spacecraft is scheduled to land at 8.41 am UK time.
The ISS has a limited supply of medical resources, including around 200 medications and essential medical equipment such as an ultrasound machine, defibrillator, and intravenous therapy kit.
This marks the first evacuation from the space station due to a health issue in 25 years, highlighting the rigorous medical evaluations astronauts undergo before space travel. Since the station’s inception in 2000, over 280 astronauts have visited.
Fincke and Cardman were set to conduct a spacewalk to prepare for the installation of new solar panels for additional power generation. While it was Fincke’s fourth space station visit, it was the second for Yui and the first for Cardman and Platonov.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman commended the agency’s swift response in ensuring astronaut safety. Three astronauts, including NASA’s Chris Williams and Russia’s Sergei Mikaev and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, are currently on the space station, scheduled to return in the summer after an eight-month mission.