ISS Crew Returns Early to Earth Due to Health Issues

In an unprecedented move, a crew from the International Space Station (ISS) returned to Earth early on Thursday after a health issue forced the suspension of their mission.

The astronauts, Americans Mike Fincke and Zina Cardman, Russian Oleg Platonov, and Japanese Kimia Yui, landed safely in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California at 08:41 GMT aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, live-streamed by NASA.

NASA had announced last week that the Crew-11 mission would be cut short due to a medical concern affecting one of the astronauts. 

NASA Chief Medical Officer James Polk explained that a “continued risk” and “uncertainty regarding the diagnosis” prompted the early return, emphasizing that it was a precautionary measure, not an emergency evacuation. 

The agency has not disclosed the nature of the health issue or the astronaut involved.

Prior to departure, NASA official Rob Navias confirmed that “the condition of one crew member is stable.”

The ISS orbits roughly 400 kilometers above Earth, and Crew-11 had arrived at the station in August 2025, originally scheduled to remain until the next crew rotation in mid-February.

This marks the first time in ISS history that a crew has returned early due to a medical issue, highlighting the rigorous safety protocols and the ability to respond quickly to health concerns in space.