Historic First: NASA Orders Early Return of ISS Crew After In-Orbit Medical Emergency

Decision marks the first medical evacuation in the space station’s 25-year history as NASA prioritizes astronaut safety

Crew-11 members Oleg Platonov, Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman and Kimiya Yui stand at the Kennedy Space Center ahead of their launch to the International Space Station, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Aug. 1, 2025. (Reuters/Steve Nesius) Background is a view of the International Space Station taken on March 30, 2022, by the crew of Russian Soyuz MS-19 spaceship. (Roscosmos State Space Corporation via AP, File)

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NASA — In an unprecedented move marking a first in the International Space Station’s 25-year history, NASA has ordered the early return of a full spaceflight crew following a medical emergency aboard the orbiting laboratory.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced plans to return Crew-11 from the ISS ahead of schedule after a medical issue, stressing the astronaut is stable and the move is precautionary. (NASA YouTube)

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced Thursday that one member of Crew-11 experienced a medical issue while aboard the ISS on Jan. 7. The astronaut is now reported to be stable. After extensive consultations with NASA’s medical teams and agency leadership, Isaacman authorized the mission’s early conclusion as a precautionary measure.

“For more than 60 years, NASA has set the standard for safety and security in crewed spaceflight,” Isaacman said during a Thursday news conference. “The health and well-being of our astronauts is always—and will always be—our highest priority.”

The SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft is expected to return Crew-11 to Earth within the coming days, well ahead of their originally scheduled return later this year. The crew arrived at the ISS in August and was initially slated for a six- to eight-month mission.

Crew-11 includes Commander Zena Cardman, pilot Mike Fincke, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.

Space historian and longtime NASA expert Rod Pyle described the decision as a historic milestone in U.S. human spaceflight.

“The declaration of a medical emergency in space is unprecedented, certainly in the operation of the International Space Station, which has been continuously crewed for 25 years,” Pyle said. “There have been medical incidents before, including a case of deep vein thrombosis, but those situations were stabilized in orbit. This is the first time an American crew has effectively been evacuated early from space.”

Pyle, who previously worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Johnson Space Center, praised Isaacman’s leadership, noting the broader implications for ongoing research aboard the ISS.

“The ripple effects are significant, though far less serious than a life-threatening emergency,” Pyle said. “Some research responsibilities will shift to the remaining astronauts, but this comes at a critical time. With the ISS scheduled to be de-orbited in 2030, every remaining mission matters as private industry works to develop successor platforms.”

NASA emphasized that the early return is precautionary and that no additional crew members are currently at risk.

The Weekly Ledger News will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as additional details become available.

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Portions of this report are based on information originally reported by Fox News.