9 months ago
NASA Plans First Medical Evacuation from ISS
An astronaut on the International Space Station (ISS) is sick, and NASA is planning to bring them back to Earth early.
This is the first time NASA has cut short a mission because of an astronaut's health.
The astronaut is part of the Crew-11 mission, which was supposed to last six months but will now return early.
NASA won't say who the astronaut is or what's wrong with them, but they say the astronaut is stable.
The ISS will have fewer people on board until the next crew arrives.
NASA and SpaceX are also looking at ways to launch the next crew sooner than planned.
The crew is expected to undock on January 14 and splash down off the coast of California on January 15.
NASA is planning the first-ever medical evacuation of an astronaut from the ISS due to an undisclosed ailment.
The astronaut is part of the Crew-11 mission, which launched in August 2024 and was supposed to last six months.
The mission will be cut short by over a month, with the crew returning in early January 2025.
NASA has not disclosed the name of the astronaut or the specific medical condition, citing privacy reasons.
The ISS will have two Russian cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut, Christopher Williams, until the next crew, Crew-12, arrives.
- Who
- An unnamed astronaut from the Crew-11 mission, including NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA's Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov
- What
- A medical evacuation from the International Space Station (ISS) due to an undisclosed ailment
- Where
- International Space Station (ISS)
- When
- In the coming days, cutting the mission short by over a month
- Why
- The astronaut's condition requires medical attention that cannot be provided on the ISS
Key facts
- Astronaut Status
- Stable
- Mission Name
- Crew-11
- Launch Date
- August 2024
- Planned Duration
- 6 months
- Expected Return Date
- Early January 2025
- Next Mission
- Crew-12
- Next Mission Launch Date
- February 15, 2025 (earliest)
- Undocking Date
- January 14, 2025
- Splashdown Location
- Off the coast of California
- Splashdown Time
- Approximately 3:40 am on January 15, 2025
Timeline
Indian Air Force's Shubhanshu Shukla docked at ISS on June 27.
Then, after 21 days, he returned to Earth.
Re-adjusting to gravity, he faced balance issues.
Suddenly, a medical emergency struck an ISS astronaut.
NASA rushed the ailing astronaut home, first such early return due to illness.
Quotes
Jared Isaacman
NASA Administrator
“This is not an emergency de-orbit.”
indianexpress.com
Dr. James Polk
NASA’s chief health and medical officer
“This was not an injury sustained during operations.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
NASA's first-ever medical evacuation: SpaceX Dragon to bring back Crew-11 from ISS on Jan 14 — what we know so far
NASA, SpaceX Set January 15 As Target Date For Crew-11’s Return To Earth Amid Astronaut Medical Emergency
NASA plans early Crew-11 undocking after ISS medical emergency, first such evacuation
Astronaut on ISS ill, NASA plans first-ever medical evacuation from space
Nasa to bring 4 SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts home in the first medical evacuation from ISS
NASA, SpaceX set target date for Crew-11’s return to earth
NASA Says Targeting Space Station Medical Evacuation For January 14
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