In an unprecedented move for the American space agency, NASA has initiated its first-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station (ISS). Four astronauts have departed the orbiting laboratory ahead of schedule, aiming for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego.
An Unexpected Departure
The crew, comprising NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan's Kimiya Yui, and Russia's Oleg Platonov, undocked from the ISS on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. Their mission, which began in August 2025, was originally scheduled to last until late February. However, the decision to return was made following an undisclosed medical issue affecting one crew member.
Officials have maintained strict medical privacy, refusing to identify the ailing astronaut or detail the health concerns. They confirmed the issue was unrelated to spacewalk preparations or station operations and stressed it was not an emergency. Outgoing station commander Mike Fincke stated via social media that the individual was "stable, safe and well cared for."
"Our timing of this departure is unexpected," said NASA astronaut Zena Cardman before the return, "but what was not surprising to me was how well this crew came together as a family."
The Journey Home and Crew Details
The four astronauts are returning aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, targeting an early Thursday morning splashdown. NASA stated it would follow standard entry and recovery procedures, with medical experts stationed on the recovery ship. This marks another middle-of-the-night return for SpaceX, occurring less than 11 hours after undocking.
The evacuation represents a significant first for NASA in its 65-year history of human spaceflight, despite computer models predicting such an event every three years. In contrast, the Soviet Union experienced a medical evacuation in 1985 when cosmonaut Vladimir Vasyutin fell seriously ill aboard the Salyut 7 station.
For two crew members, this early return cuts short a debut mission. It was the first spaceflight for Zena Cardman, a 38-year-old biologist and polar explorer, and for Oleg Platonov, a 39-year-old former Russian Air Force fighter pilot. Veteran astronauts Fincke, 58, and Yui, 55, are repeat space fliers. Just last week, Yui celebrated his 300th day in space across two missions.
Consequences and Future Operations
The early departure reduces the ISS crew from seven to just three—one American and two Russians who are only 1.5 months into an eight-month mission. NASA officials concluded it was riskier to leave the astronaut without proper medical attention for another month than to operate with a reduced crew.
As a result, the agency will have to stand down from all routine and emergency spacewalks until a replacement crew arrives, as these operations require a two-person team with internal backup. NASA and SpaceX are now working to move up the launch of a fresh four-person crew from Florida, currently targeted for mid-February.
This evacuation was the first major decision by NASA's new administrator, Jared Isaacman, who assumed the role in December. "The health and the well-being of our astronauts is always and will be our highest priority," Isaacman stated last week.
