NASA Hastens Crew Return Due to Astronaut’s Health – No Emergency, Says Agency

On Friday, NASA announced plans to return the “Crew-11” personnel to Earth next week, only a day after disclosing a health issue experienced by one of the crew members that necessitated an earlier return. According to NASA, Crew 11 plans to depart the space station aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour on January 14, with a splashdown off the California coast planned for January 15. NASA has indicated that the scheduled return could change based on weather conditions.

“Mission managers continue to monitor conditions in the separation zone as the detachment of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft depends on the readiness of the spacecraft, rescue team availability, maritime weather, and other factors,” NASA stated in its Friday announcement. “NASA and SpaceX will choose the exact time and location of splashdown closer to the time of the Crew-11 spacecraft’s detachment.”

“This is not an emergency evacuation,”

NASA asserted, explaining that the astronaut’s health issue is neither an injury nor a result of spacewalk preparation.

On Thursday, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman mentioned during a press conference that an unnamed member of Crew 11 experienced “health issues,” requiring the crew’s earlier-than-planned return to Earth. Officials have not specified the nature of the medical problem, only saying that the crew member’s condition is “stable”.

The Crew 11 includes Commander Zena Cardman, astronaut Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.