CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA executed its inaugural medical evacuation from the International Space Station on Thursday, returning four astronauts to Earth over a month ahead of schedule. The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule completed a precision splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego during nighttime hours, concluding an 11-hour journey from the orbiting laboratory.
NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, alongside Japan’s Kimiya Yui and Russia’s Oleg Platonov, safely returned to Earth following the unprecedented medical decision. While officials maintained medical privacy regarding the affected crew member’s identity and condition, they confirmed the astronaut remained stable throughout the mission but required Earth-based medical evaluation and care.
The early return created an unusual staffing situation aboard the ISS, leaving just one American and two Russian astronauts to maintain operations. NASA and SpaceX announced accelerated plans for the next crew launch, currently targeted for mid-February, which will include two Americans, one French, and one Russian astronaut.
Notably, NASA emphasized this did not constitute an emergency situation despite being the agency’s first medical-related mission truncation. The health concern emerged on January 7, prompting cancellation of a scheduled spacewalk and ultimately leading to the decision for early return. Historical precedent exists with Russia having conducted similar medical evacuations decades earlier.
The reduced three-person crew will maintain essential station operations but cannot perform spacewalks, even for emergency repairs, until the arrival of the replacement crew. Recovery operations proceeded normally with standard medical support available, though transfer timelines to the astronauts’ home bases in Houston and Moscow remained undetermined immediately after splashdown.