NASA is returning four astronauts to Earth earlier than planned due to a ‘serious’ medical emergency on the International Space Station (ISS).
This emergency evacuation marks the first of its kind for NASA on the ISS, announced during an impromptu press conference on Thursday, January 8. Details were sparse, with senior space officials withholding specifics.
NASA administrator Jared Isaacman informed reporters that an unnamed astronaut aboard the ISS was diagnosed with a ‘serious medical condition’ while orbiting 250 miles above Earth.
After consulting with medical experts, the decision was made to evacuate the station and bring the astronauts back because the ISS lacked ‘the capability to diagnose and treat this properly’.
NASA officials did not disclose further details regarding the medical issue, citing the astronaut’s privacy. However, they confirmed that the medical condition was not related to operational activities or an injury.
Though stable, the astronaut needs to return to Earth for additional diagnostics and treatment, according to Isaacman.
A NASA spokesperson told Sky News that safety is their ‘highest priority’ and that the agency is ‘actively evaluating all options, including the possibility of an earlier end to Crew-11’s mission’.
This affects the current crew on the ISS, consisting of American astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, who will return to Earth months ahead of schedule.
Crew-11, with over 1,100 days of combined space experience, joined the ISS in August after launching from Florida, as reported by Metro. They were initially set to return in May.
The space agency canceled a planned 6.5-hour spacewalk by Station Commander Fincke and engineer Cardman, which aimed to install new hardware outside the station.
Isaacman stated: “After discussions with Chief Health and Medical Officer Dr J.D. Polk and leadership across the agency, I’ve come to the decision that it’s in the best interest of our astronauts to return Crew-11 ahead of their planned departure.”
Dr. Polk provided additional insight, stating: “It’s not an emergency evacuation, but we are erring on the side of caution for the crew member.”
The space agency plans to outline the astronauts’ return strategy over the weekend. NBC News reports that NASA is considering replacing Crew-11 with Crew-12, initially scheduled for a February 15 mission to the ISS.