A very rare event in the history of the ISS: the entire Crew-11 crew will return to Earth weeks early because one of its members has a health problem and the diagnosis at around 400 km above sea level is not simple.
NASA announced on January 9, 2026 that the SpaceX Crew-11 mission, currently aboard the International Space Station, will return to Earth weeks ahead of schedule. The decision was made for “a medical reason, not related to any accident on the ISS”, explained NASA doctor JD Polkun who follows the situation, an unprecedented event in the almost 25 years of continuous activity of the ISS.
What happened
On January 7, the agency detected a health problem involving one of the crew members. While specifying that the situation is stable, NASA explained that the person involved requires evaluation and treatment which cannot be carried out in orbit. The condition also led to the postponement of the “spacewalk”, the extravehicular activity, scheduled for January 8, which should have involved astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman.
Who will return: the crew of Crew-11
The Crew-11 mission, which launched between 1 and 2 August 2025 on board the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, is composed of: Zena Cardman (NASA), commander; Mike Fincke (NASA), pilot; Kimiya Yui (Japanese space agency JAXA), mission specialist; Oleg Platonov (Russian agency Roscosmos), mission specialist. Their return was initially scheduled between February and May 2026.
How the return will take place
The four astronauts will return to Earth on the same Crew Dragon that took them into orbit. NASA has indicated that the splashdown will take place “in the next few days”, in one of the recovery areas usually used in the Pacific or Atlantic. The decision was made in coordination with flight surgeons, mission control teams and partner agencies: NASA, JAXA, Roscosmos and SpaceX.
Because it is a significant event
This is one of the very few cases in which a full rotation of astronauts is terminated early for medical reasons. NASA reiterated that the health of the crew is the top priority and that neither the name nor the nature of the problem will be disclosed, respecting medical privacy.
How the ISS handles medical emergencies
On board the station, telemedicine systems are available with continuous support from the ground, basic medical instruments and drugs for non-critical conditions, and return vehicles always ready for any urgent return. However, some conditions require advanced diagnostics or treatments available only on Earth, making early reentry necessary.
Historical precedents
Before the ISS era, Soviet space stations recorded some similar cases:
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Vladimir Vasyutin – Salyut 7 (1985)
It is undoubtedly the most serious and well-known case. Vasyutin developed acute prostatitis with high fever and severe pain. The mission was aborted after 64 days instead of the planned 180. -
Soyuz 21 – Salyut 5 (1976)
Boris Volynov and Vitaly Zholobov were forced to return early. Zholobov developed heart problems, nausea, extreme weakness, and cognitive impairment due to a combination of contaminated air in the space station, mental and physical stress, and possible vapor intoxication. The mission was aborted after 49 days. -
Soyuz T-14 – Grechko case (1985)
Even before Vasyutin’s emergency, Georgi Grechko had to return early (but not in a critical emergency) because he was not trained for a necessary EVA and had developed minor physical problems that made the activity risky. It was not a serious case, but it contributed to destabilizing the mission. -
ISS – Expedition 16 (2007)
Astronaut Clayton Anderson (NASA) was sent back to Earth earlier than expected for medical reasons that were not serious, but incompatible with a prolonged stay. NASA never disclosed the nature of the problem (medical privacy). -
ISS – Expedition 35/36 (2013)
Cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov had health problems during the mission, so much so that he was unable to participate in the EVAs and was considered “unfit” for some critical activities. An early return was not necessary, but it is one of the most serious cases of operational limitation for medical reasons on the ISS. -
ISS – minor cases (2000–present)
NASA has recorded some incidents of kidney stones, infections, arrhythmias, acute ophthalmic problems (SANS), and muscle injuries. No one requested immediate return, but in more than one case the option was considered.
The early return of Crew-11 represents a rare event in the history of the International Space Station and highlights the complexity of space medicine. NASA and international partners are monitoring the situation and will provide updates once the crew has returned to Earth and undergoes full medical evaluations.
