WASHINGTON, Jan 10, 2026, 14:24 EST
- NASA and SpaceX have scheduled the undocking of Crew-11 from the International Space Station for January 14.
- NASA confirmed the crew member involved in the medical issue is currently stable
- Splashdown is set for early Jan. 15 off the California coast, though the exact timing remains weather-dependent
NASA and SpaceX now plan to bring the Crew-11 mission back from the International Space Station no earlier than 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 14, following a medical issue with one crew member, NASA said. The four-person team is expected to splash down off California’s coast around 3:40 a.m. ET on Jan. 15. (NASA)
This marks the first planned medical evacuation from the ISS in its 25-year history, as NASA struggles to maintain routine operations with less room for error. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman told reporters the agency expedited the return due to a “serious medical condition,” though the top medical official stressed it was “not an emergent evacuation.” (The Guardian)
NASA revealed the situation on Jan. 8, confirming it involved one crew member who remains stable. The agency is “actively evaluating all options,” which could mean cutting Crew-11’s mission short. (NASA)
Crew-11 includes NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. NASA hasn’t disclosed which crew member is impacted or provided details on the medical condition, citing privacy concerns.
“Undocking” refers to the SpaceX Dragon capsule detaching from the station and moving away to begin its journey back to Earth. NASA will finalize a precise splashdown time and location nearer to departure, factoring in spacecraft readiness, recovery teams, weather, and sea conditions.
Isaacman explained the choice came down to constraints aboard the station, noting that “the capability to diagnose and treat this properly does not live on the International Space Station.” NASA’s medical lead James Polk clarified the issue wasn’t related to any injury during station activities. (Reuters)
The schedule is still a target, not set in stone. Weather and sea conditions off California could delay the splashdown window. NASA has built in flexibility to shift timing based on the crew member’s health and evolving recovery plans on the ground.
Once Crew-11 leaves, just three will be left aboard the space station: NASA astronaut Chris Williams plus Russian cosmonauts Sergei Mikayev and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov. NASA says the crew member facing medical issues is stable but is withholding further details.
NASA is also reviewing its staffing and handover schedules, considering an earlier launch for the next crew rotation. According to SpacePolicyOnline, the agency is assessing if Crew-12’s launch can be expedited. (Spacepolicyonline)
