NASA Considers Early Return for ISS Crew After Medical Incident

NASA is evaluating the possibility of an early return for the four-person Crew-11 from the International Space Station (ISS) following a sudden medical issue involving one astronaut. This announcement was made on the evening of March 13, 2024, and comes after a planned spacewalk scheduled for March 14 was canceled.

A NASA spokesperson emphasized, “Safely conducting our missions is our highest priority, and we are actively evaluating all options, including the possibility of an earlier end to Crew-11’s mission.” The agency underscored its preparedness for such situations, noting that they train extensively for emergencies in space. Further updates are expected within the next 24 hours.

While the specific identity of the astronaut experiencing the medical emergency was not disclosed, NASA confirmed that the crew member is in stable condition aboard the ISS. Astronauts typically spend up to eight months on the station, equipped with essential medical supplies to address various health concerns during their missions.

Crew-11 consists of US astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platnov. The crew launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon in August 2023 and had been scheduled to remain in orbit until May 2024.

The spacewalk, which was set to last nearly seven hours, would have seen Fincke, serving as the station’s commander, and Cardman, the flight manager, working outside the ISS to install hardware. This incident follows a history of spacewalk cancellations, including a previous occurrence in 2023 when an astronaut reported discomfort in their spacesuit. In 2021, US astronaut Mark Vande Hei also called off a spacewalk due to a pinched nerve.

As NASA continues to assess the situation, the focus remains on ensuring the health and safety of the crew while maintaining the integrity of the ongoing mission aboard the ISS.