NASA Space Station Evacuation: Crew-11 Lands Safely After Historic Medical Emergency

Four SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts are back on Earth today after a historic medical evacuation from the International Space Station. The mission ended 167 days in orbit following an undisclosed health issue with one crew member. All astronauts are currently stable and undergoing final evaluations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

The SpaceX Dragon Endeavour splash down in the dark Pacific waters off San Diego yesterday. It was a quiet end to a very loud week for the space community. For the first time in 25 years, NASA had to call its people home early because of a medical issue.

The NASA astronauts and their crewmates landed at 12:41 a.m. PT on January 15. The team included Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui, and Oleg Platonov. They spent 167 days in space before NASA decided to cut the trip short. Normally, these missions last at least six months.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the space station evacuation was a “controlled” move, not an emergency. One crew member developed a condition that doctors could not treat in orbit. Space lacks the heavy diagnostic tools we have on the ground.

Why the Space Station Evacuation Happened

The trouble started on January 7. NASA suddenly canceled a planned spacewalk. A day later, they ordered the full crew to return. Because the Dragon capsule serves as a collective “lifeboat,” everyone had to leave together.

Dr. James Polk, NASA’s chief doctor, noted that space is unforgiving. He said erring on the side of caution is always the right choice. The identity of the ill astronaut remains private to protect their medical history.

Currently, only three people remain on the station. This “skeleton crew” will handle essential tasks for now. NASA is already working to speed up the next launch. The NASA astronauts for Crew-12 may head up earlier than the planned February 15 date.

The returned crew spent last night in a San Diego hospital. They are flying to Houston today to see their families.