NASA has initiated an accelerated return protocol for four International Space Station crew members following an onboard medical incident. The space agency announced Thursday that the multinational team—comprising American, Japanese, and Russian astronauts—will conclude their mission earlier than scheduled after an unspecified medical situation prompted mission controllers to cancel the year’s first planned spacewalk.
While maintaining strict confidentiality regarding the crew member’s identity and specific medical condition, NASA confirmed the individual has stabilized and is receiving appropriate care. The affected astronaut is among the seven-person crew currently operating the orbiting laboratory, which includes personnel who arrived via SpaceX’s August launch and a separate Soyuz-launched trio scheduled to remain until summer.
The early return affects NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. Their premature departure necessitates rescheduling critical maintenance operations, including a canceled spacewalk intended to prepare for future solar panel installations to enhance the station’s power capacity.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised the agency’s rapid response, stating: ‘I’m proud of the swift effort across the agency thus far to ensure the safety of our astronauts.’ This medical evacuation occurs as NASA continues long-term planning for the station’s eventual decommissioning, having contracted SpaceX to safely deorbit the facility by approximately 2030.