NASA carries out first-ever medical evacuation from ISS as astronauts return to Earth from space
NASA conducted the first medical evacuation of astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS), quickly returning the four-person crew to Earth following a health emergency in orbit.
The Crew-11 capsule splashed down into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California, at approximately 3:41 ET on Thursday, ending its nearly 10-hour return flight after departing the ISS the previous day.
The return occurred due to a medical problem that NASA flight surgeons determined could not be fully treated in microgravity.
On board were NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.
The spacecraft fired its engines to exit orbit at 2:50 a.m. before enduring a fiery reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, deploying four parachutes to slow its descent into the ocean just before splashdown.
A rescue ship manned by medical personnel retrieved the capsule from the sea, performed immediate health assessments, and transported the astronauts by helicopter and jet to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for further evaluation.
The American space agency declined to identify the affected crew member or describe the nature of the condition, citing medical privacy.
NASA administrator Jared Isaacman decided to bring the crew home early out of an abundance of caution, stating that the astronaut’s medical condition was considered ‘serious’ and would require additional medical care on Earth.
The spacecraft revved its engines to exit orbit at 2:50 a.m., deploying four parachutes to slow its descent into the ocean before a fiery re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
Crew-11 before leaving the ISS. Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov (Back left), NASA astronaut Mike Fincke (Front left), JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui (Front right) and NASA’s Zena Cardman (Back right).
NASA’s chief medical officer, Dr. James Polk said last week that their condition was stable and they were not in immediate danger.
He noted that the astronaut’s medical condition had nothing to do with the spacewalk, which was canceled on January 8, or other operations on the station.
NASA will host a live conference at 5:45 a.m. to discuss the astronauts’ return.
As the capsule bobbed above the water, boats swarmed into it, which pulled the craft toward a distant rescue ship after the splashdown.
The capsule was then lifted onto the boat andThe SpaceX ground crew quickly began cooling it down and cleaning up any debris that might have stuck to the hatch door during descent.
The hatch opened at 3:19 a.m., giving the astronauts their first breath of fresh air since launching to the ISS on August 1.
Medical doctors were the first to meet the crew for a quick routine health check.
Fincke was the first to exit the capsule, followed by Cardman, Platonov and Yui.
The SpaceX Dragon capsule hit the water at 3:41 a.m., bringing the four-person Crew-11 home
The return capsule was lifted to a rescue ship waiting nearby in the Pacific Ocean.
The picture shows the first images of the astronauts after they fell into the Pacific Ocean.
“It’s nice to be home,” said capsule commander Cardman. This was his first space mission.
Each astronaut was placed on a stretcher and then taken away for further medical testing as they spent more than 100 days in zero gravity.
A senior NASA official, Amit Kshatriya, praised how the four evacuated astronauts handled the situation, saying they were trained to deal with unexpected medical situations.
The four astronauts were scheduled to leave after Crew-12 arrived aboard a new SpaceX Dragon capsule before February 15.
Until they arrive, a group including NASA astronaut Chris Williams, who arrived at the ISS aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft in November 2025, will maintain the station.
The evacuation was conducted in accordance with NASA’s Spaceflight Human System Standard, which mandates emergency return procedures when onboard medical resources are inadequate.
Although statistical models have long predicted that such an event could occur roughly every three years, the scheme has never been used before.
Located 250 miles above Earth, the ISS serves as a testing ground for research supporting deeper space exploration, including missions to return humans to the moon and Mars.
The ISS is scheduled to be decommissioned after 2030; its orbit will gradually lower until it breaks up in the atmosphere over a distant part of the Pacific Ocean called Point Nemo, a spacecraft graveyard.
