WASHINGTON, January 9, 2026, 11:43 EST
- NASA said it will return SpaceX’s Crew-11 from the International Space Station earlier than planned due to a medical concern with one crew member
- The agency said it is working with SpaceX and international partners on options to advance Crew-12 launch opportunities
- NASA said it expects to set a target Crew-11 return date in the coming days (NASA)
NASA will bring the SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts back from the International Space Station early after a medical issue affected one of the four crew members, agency officials said on Thursday. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman called it a “serious medical condition” and said “the capability to diagnose and treat this properly does not live on the ISS.” (Aviation Week Network)
The decision immediately throws the crew-rotation schedule into motion. NASA said it is reviewing Crew-11 return dates and working with SpaceX and international partners on options to move up launch opportunities for Crew-12. (NASA)
Ending a mission early for an astronaut’s health is a first for NASA at the ISS, which has been permanently occupied since 2000. Jordan Bimm, a space historian at the University of Chicago, said it was “almost amazing” the station went nearly 26 years without a case forcing a crew to come home early. (Scientific American)
The first public sign of trouble came on Jan. 7, when NASA postponed a planned spacewalk — when astronauts work outside the station — scheduled for Jan. 8. NASA said the situation was stable but gave no details, citing medical privacy. (NASA)
A NASA spokesperson said teams were “actively evaluating all options,” including an earlier end to Crew-11’s mission. The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which buys astronaut transport services from private firms, and such rotations typically last about six months, CNN reported. (ABC17NEWS)
NASA Chief Health and Medical Officer James Polk told Sky News it was not an “emergency evacuation,” but the agency was “erring on the side of caution for the crew member.” The agency has not named the astronaut and said the person is stable, Sky reported. (Sky News)
At a short-notice briefing at NASA headquarters in Washington, officials stressed the return would follow standard procedures rather than an “emergency deorbit” — a rapid departure that can be done in hours. NASA said it would provide more information on timing after weighing factors such as weather. (SpacePolicyOnline)
But the medical condition remains undisclosed, and NASA officials said they would provide an updated undocking and re-entry timeline within 48 hours. Physician and former astronaut Tom Marshburn told CBS News that station crews have extensive medical gear but “can’t sustain somebody sick for a really long period of time” in orbit, underscoring why NASA may prefer an early return even with the astronaut stable. (Spaceflightnow)
