Astronauts will come home early so that one of them can receive medical attention.
Space exploration is a dangerous endeavor, and during the stay of NASA/SpaceX Crew-11 stay in the International Space Station, another hazard has arisen: medical issues with mission members.
Today, we have learned that NASA will bring back to Earth the four Crew-11 astronauts from the International Space Station next week.
Space.com reported:
“SpaceX says it’s Dragon spacecraft at the International Space Station is ready to return its four Crew-11 astronauts home in an unprecedented medical evacuation on Jan. 14 and 15.
‘Dragon and Crew-11 are targeted to undock from the space station no earlier than Wednesday, January 14’, SpaceX wrote in a mission update on X late yesterday.”
Dragon and Crew-11 are targeted to undock from the space station no earlier than Wednesday, January 14 https://t.co/L6ThXkTHba
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 10, 2026
Crew-11 astronauts will undock from the ISS on Jan. 14 and splashdown off the coast of California on Jan. 15.
“NASA decided to evacuate the crew, which make up four of the seven astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station, on Jan. 8 after an apparently serious medical concern arose with one of the four Crew-11 astronauts.
The astronaut is stable, but NASA officials opted for a ‘controlled medical evacuation’ in order to provide astronaut better treatment on the ground, NASA chief Jared Isaacman has said.”
While NASA hasn’t disclosed who is the crew member with the medical issue, some users on X think they have solved the mystery.
Audio of Crew-11 member Kimiya Yui (JAXA) requesting a PMC (private medical conference) yesterday around the time the news started to break. pic.twitter.com/CnQJ1aA8On
— Justin Davenport (@Bubbinski) January 8, 2026
For the first time in the 25 year history of the ISS, NASA decided to return #CREW11 home early because of a medical situation. This is out of an abundance of caution and they are not doing an emergency return! We’ll learn more soon! Hoping everyone remains ok and healthy! pic.twitter.com/GebJz3H743
— Everyday Astronaut (@Erdayastronaut) January 8, 2026
Read more:
