WASHINGTON: NASA has decided to bring back an astronaut and three crewmates from the International Space Station (ISS) months ahead of schedule after a crew member developed a “serious medical condition,” marking the first such early return in the space station’s 25-year history.
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NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said on Thursday that the decision was taken because the ISS lacks the capability to properly diagnose and treat the condition. The affected astronaut has not been identified, and officials declined to disclose details of the illness, citing medical privacy.
“This is not an emergency evacuation,” a NASA official said, adding that the agency prioritises astronaut health at all times.
An updated timeline for the crew’s return is expected within 48 hours. Earlier this week, NASA abruptly cancelled a planned spacewalk due to what it described as a “medical concern,” signalling the seriousness of the situation.
The four-member Crew-11 mission includes NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. One US astronaut will remain aboard the ISS alongside two Russian cosmonauts until a replacement crew arrives next month.
Dr James Polk, NASA’s chief health and medical officer, said this is the first time in the agency’s more than 65-year history that a mission is ending early because of a medical issue.
Crew-11 launched to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon in August last year and was originally scheduled to return after a six-month stay. Experts say the early departure may delay scientific experiments and maintenance work, as the reduced crew will focus primarily on keeping the station operational until reinforcements arrive.
