ISS astronaut medical evacuation latest news: Crew-11 astronauts prepare for SpaceX Dragon departure
The Crew-11 astronauts are set to depart the International Space Station (ISS) early due to a medical concern affecting one of the crew members. NASA has announced a controlled medical evacuation, marking the first time in the ISS's 25-year history that a crew has been brought back to Earth for medical reasons.
The evacuation is scheduled for January 14, 2026, with the SpaceX Dragon capsule undocking from the ISS and splashing down off the coast of California early on January 15. The astronauts returning to Earth include Crew-11 commander Zena Cardman of NASA, mission specialists Kimiya Yui of Japan and Oleg Platonov of Russia, and pilot Mike Fincke.
The medical issue was identified on January 7, prompting NASA to act swiftly. The affected astronaut is currently stable, but the agency prioritized a safe return to Earth for better treatment. The decision to evacuate Crew-11 early also means that the station will be left with a reduced crew, consisting of NASA astronaut Chris Williams and cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev, who will remain on the ISS to complete their mission.
The change of command ceremony, originally scheduled for many weeks from the current date, has been accelerated and will take place on January 12, 2026, at 2:35 p.m. EST. During this ceremony, Fincke will hand over command of the ISS to Kud-Sverchkov, who arrived at the station in November with Mikayev and Williams.
The medical evacuation has not affected NASA's plans for the Artemis 2 moon mission, which is set to launch in early February. The mission will involve four astronauts and is expected to lift off from the Kennedy Space Center, where SpaceX will also launch the Crew-12 astronauts.
The astronauts have been packing their personal items and preparing for the return journey, with the Dragon pressure suits being the same black and white SpaceX spacesuits worn during their launch in August 2025. The evacuation highlights the importance of prioritizing crew health and safety in space exploration.
