NASA crew to make rare early return after medical issue in space (CNN) [View all]

Jackie Wattles

Four astronauts will return from the International Space Station more than a month ahead of schedule after an unnamed crew member experienced a medical issue.

NASA has not provided details about the nature of the problem, citing privacy concerns. The agency typically does not discuss the specifics of health matters related to astronauts.

The affected crew member is in stable condition, NASA previously confirmed, and is not expected to receive special treatment during the return trip, said Dr. James Polk, NASA’s chief health and medical officer at the agency’s headquarters. The astronaut would also be best served by being evaluated on the ground, Polk added.
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The returning group, which includes American astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, makes up NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11. The mission, part of the orbiting laboratory’s regular staffing rotation, was expected to conclude no earlier than next month. Typically, NASA wouldn’t bring a team such as this back to Earth before another was in place.
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more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/08/science/nasa-astronauts-crew-11-return