NASA evacuates all crew of the ISS due to medical situation: what is known.

According to ТСН: NASA has made an unprecedented decision to prematurely conclude the Crew-11 mission and return all four astronauts to Earth for medical reasons. According to the space agency, the situation is concerning but stable.

The crew, which includes NASA astronauts Zen Cardman and Michael Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, has been working on the ISS since August 1, 2025, planning to complete a six-month mission at the beginning of next month. However, on January 7, one crew member experienced medical complications, and NASA management decided to return all astronauts early.

Situation with the astronaut

During a press conference, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman noted that the astronaut's condition is stable and there is no threat to life, but a precise diagnosis can only be established on Earth. The agency typically does not disclose the name of the affected individual for privacy reasons.

NASA's chief doctor, Dr. J.D. Polk, explained that the problem is not related to preparations for the canceled spacewalk. He emphasized that this is a 'medical issue in the complex conditions of microgravity,' which requires a full examination that cannot be conducted aboard the station.

Previous cases and evacuation

Previously, the ISS has been a site for remote diagnostic experiments, but a medical evacuation of the crew has never been conducted. A precedent was set in 2019 when an astronaut was found to have a thrombosis and was treated in orbit until the necessary medications were received.

This time, NASA states that the evacuation is not an emergency, but delaying a full examination would be impractical. The team will return on the same SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour ship they arrived on, which is logistically more advantageous than evacuating one astronaut and sending the capsule back to orbit.

Next steps

Meanwhile, NASA and international partners are discussing the possibility of accelerating the launch of Crew-12, scheduled no earlier than February 15. NASA is expected to announce the exact schedule for the undocking and return of Crew-11 shortly.

Recall that on January 8, NASA reported the possible premature conclusion of the Crew-11 mission after one of the astronauts on the International Space Station faced health issues. Due to this, the agency has already postponed the planned spacewalk.

This situation highlights the challenges astronauts face in space, where medical issues can arise in unique conditions. Although evacuation is not a common practice, NASA ensures the safety of its crew by acting quickly and thoughtfully. The return of the team to Earth is planned with all necessary medical procedures in mind.