News Desk: In a rare first for the International Space Station, four astronauts from SpaceX Crew-11 have safely returned to Earth following an unprecedented medical evacuation from orbit.
The crew — NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov — splashed down in the Pacific Ocean aboard the Crew Dragon Endeavour, operated by SpaceX under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Dragon and @NASA’s Crew-11 return to Earth, splashing down off the coast of California pic.twitter.com/Kc7c6VX14A
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 15, 2026
NASA said the mission was brought to an early close after a medical issue involving one crew member prompted doctors on the ground to recommend a precautionary return. The agency has not disclosed the astronaut’s identity or the nature of the condition but confirmed the individual remained stable throughout the journey home.
This is the first time in over 25 years of continuous human presence aboard the ISS that a crew rotation mission has been shortened due to medical concerns, highlighting the unpredictable challenges of long-duration spaceflight.
Recovery teams and medical personnel were on standby as the capsule was retrieved, with officials confirming that all four astronauts were in good health following initial post-landing evaluations.
Crew-11’s early departure leaves the ISS operating temporarily with a reduced crew, leading to the postponement of some planned spacewalks and research activities. NASA is now reviewing options to accelerate upcoming missions to restore full operational strength aboard the station.
Though shorter than planned, the mission completed months of critical scientific research and maintenance work. Officials said the successful evacuation and return demonstrated the resilience of modern crewed spacecraft — and reinforced that astronaut safety remains the top priority in low-Earth orbit.
