Four astronauts are making an early exit from the International Space Station (ISS) due to a medical issue involving one team member. This marks the first medical evacuation from the ISS since it launched in 1998. The astronauts, known as Crew 11, are set to splash down off the California coast early Thursday morning.
NASA hasn’t shared specific details about the medical issue but confirmed that the affected crew member is stable. Control of the ISS has now switched to Russian cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and two others, ensuring operations continue smoothly.
The team—Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, Kimiya Yui from Japan, and Oleg Platonov—originally arrived on the ISS on August 1 with plans for a six-and-a-half-month stay. They were expected to return in mid-February. Just last week, a spacewalk by Fincke and Cardman was abruptly canceled, leading to the announcement of the crew member’s illness later that day.
“It’s bittersweet,” Fincke said as he handed over the ISS controls. He reassured the public that all crew members are “stable, safe, and well cared for.”
The ISS, orbiting 250 miles above Earth, travels at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour, completing 16 orbits daily. It’s home to vital scientific research on the effects of microgravity on humans, animals, and plants. Despite the early departure of Crew 11, Kud-Sverchkov expressed determination to fulfill their scientific tasks onboard. The reduced crew size could hinder ongoing research, as the ISS now has only three astronauts: Chris Williams from NASA, Kud-Sverchkov, and Sergei Mikaev.
This incident is significant, especially as the ISS has been continuously inhabited since 2000. Historically, health-related early returns from space have been rare, happening just twice before—with Soviet missions in the mid-1980s.
With an increase in human travels to space, experts emphasize the need for medical personnel on missions. The landscape of space travel is rapidly evolving, with plans for future tourism and potential colonization of the Moon and Mars. As spaces become accessible to more people, the conversation around health and safety in space becomes even more crucial.
For those interested in the ISS and its ongoing research, you can find more information on NASA’s [official site](https://www.nasa.gov). The history and advancements made aboard the ISS are not just about exploring outer space; they also pave the way for the possibilities of human life beyond Earth.
