It's like a real-life sci-fi twist: first-ever medical evacuation in orbit! 🌌🩺 On Wednesday, Jan 14, 2026, four crew members headed home early from the International Space Station (ISS) due to a medical issue.
Astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman from the U.S., cosmonaut Oleg Platonov from Russia, and astronaut Kimiya Yui from Japan undocked from the ISS at 22:20 GMT after five months in space. They climbed aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule for the journey back, with a planned splashdown off the California coast at around 08:40 GMT Thursday.
NASA is keeping details under wraps but stresses there's no emergency. "First and foremost, we are all OK. Everyone on board is stable, safe and well cared for," tweeted pilot Mike Fincke, part of the Crew-11 mission. He said the early return was a deliberate choice to access full medical diagnostics on Earth.
According to James Polk, NASA's chief health and medical officer, a "lingering risk" and open questions about the diagnosis prompted the mission cut short by about a month. The affected crew member remains in stable condition.
Back on the ISS, American astronaut Chris Williams and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev continue station duties until the next team arrives.
This historic operation highlights how space agencies balance exploration with crew health. We'll be watching the Dragon's splashdown and hoping for a smooth recovery for all. 🚀👨⚕️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
