URGENT UPDATE: A four-member crew has successfully returned to Earth after a medical evacuation from the International Space Station (ISS), marking the first early mission return for health reasons in the station’s 25-year history. The crew, aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, touched down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 3:41 AM ET on January 8, 2023.
The astronauts had been conducting research aboard the ISS since August and were originally scheduled to remain until next month, with a handover to the incoming Crew-12 mission. The team comprised Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, along with Japan’s Kimiya Yui. They completed a nearly 11-hour journey back to Earth, where they were greeted by a recovery ship that lifted their capsule from the water.
While NASA has not disclosed which crew member was affected, officials confirmed the astronaut is in stable condition and will be transported to a hospital for further evaluation. The nature of the medical issue remains undisclosed, creating a cloud of uncertainty around the incident.
NASA had previously canceled a scheduled spacewalk due to this medical situation, highlighting the urgency of the evacuation. The planned operation involved the installation of solar panels by astronauts Fincke and Cardman. Notably, Japan’s space agency (JAXA) reported that astronaut Kimiya Yui was not the crew member affected.
“This is not an injury that occurred during operations,” stated Dr. James Polk, NASA’s chief health and medical officer. He explained that the issue arose from the challenging conditions of microgravity and emphasized the importance of utilizing Earth-based diagnostic tools for the returning astronaut’s care.
As the situation develops, the ISS will continue operations under the supervision of Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikaev, alongside NASA astronaut Chris Williams, who arrived at the station aboard the Russian Soyuz MS-28 in November.
This unprecedented evacuation raises questions about the health and safety measures in place for astronauts living and working in microgravity. As more information becomes available, the space community and the public await updates on the affected crew member’s condition and the implications for future missions.
Stay tuned for ongoing updates on this urgent situation as NASA and other agencies respond to this developing story.
