NASA has returned four astronauts to Earth in its first medical evacuation from the International Space Station, cutting their mission short by more than a month. The SpaceX capsule undocked on Wednesday and is scheduled to splash down early Thursday in the Pacific near San Diego.
The crew includes NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Russia’s Oleg Platonov. One astronaut required medical evaluation on Earth, though NASA declined to disclose the identity or condition, citing privacy. Officials stressed the situation was not an emergency and said the astronaut is stable.
Launched in August, the crew was originally set to remain in orbit until late February. NASA said returning early was safer than delaying care in space. Standard recovery procedures, including onboard medical teams, will be followed after splashdown.
With only three astronauts remaining on the station, NASA has temporarily halted spacewalks until a new crew arrives. The decision marks the first major call by NASA’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, who said astronaut health remains the agency’s top priority.
