Four astronauts aboard NASA’s Crew-11 mission have undocked from the International Space Station, launching the first medical evacuation from the outpost since its inception in 1998.
The SpaceX Dragon capsule, with Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Russia’s Oleg Platonov, anticipates a splashdown off California early Thursday local time. Their August 2025 arrival planned for a 6.5-month stay until mid-February, but illness struck one member on 7 January, prompting the early exit despite stable condition.
Control now lies with a trio—NASA’s Chris Williams, cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev—until February reinforcements. A scrubbed spacewalk last week signalled the trouble.
“It’s bittersweet,” said Mr Fincke when he handed over the keys to the ISS to Kud-Sverchjov on Monday.
In a social media post, he stressed that all crew members on board were “stable, safe, and well cared for.”
“Despite all the changes and all the difficulties, we are going to do our job onboard ISS, performing all the scientific tasks, maintenance tasks here, whatever happens,” Kud-Sverchkov said on Monday.
He then issued his first command—a group hug.
Orbiting 250 miles up at 17,500 mph through 16 daily laps, the ISS—a partnership of five agencies—advances microgravity research, though lacking an onboard doctor. Slimmed staffing will curb science and upkeep in its 26-year manned run.
Precedents include Soviet early returns from Salyut 7 in 1985 and Mir in 1987 for urological and heart issues. Experts foresee doctors joining future flights amid tourism and deep-space aims.