NASA has announced the timeline for its first medical evacuation from the International Space Station (ISS) following a serious health issue affecting one of its astronauts. The agency revealed on social media that the crew is scheduled to begin their departure no earlier than 17:00 EST on Wednesday, January 14, 2024, with plans to land near California early the following morning, January 15, 2024, pending weather and recovery conditions.
In a briefing on Thursday, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated, “After discussions with chief health and medical officer Dr. James 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.” This marks a significant moment in the agency’s 25-year history with the ISS, as it is the first instance of a medical evacuation from the space station.
The identity of the astronaut in question has not been disclosed, adhering to patient privacy regulations, but it has been confirmed that the individual is stable. “This was a serious medical condition,” Isaacman emphasized, explaining the urgency of the decision. Dr. Polk added, “Because the astronaut is absolutely stable, this is not an emergent evacuation. We’re not immediately disembarking and getting the astronaut down, but it leaves that lingering risk and lingering question as to what that diagnosis is, and that means there is some lingering risk for that astronaut onboard.”
Crew-11, commanded by Zena Cardman, arrived at the ISS in August 2023 via a SpaceX capsule. The team includes NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. Meanwhile, three other crew members—US astronaut Chris Williams and Russian cosmonauts Sergei Mikayev and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov—will remain on the ISS to continue their work.
In light of this medical emergency, NASA has also cancelled its first spacewalk of the year. The agency plans to decommission the aging ISS, which has become expensive to operate, by late 2030 or early 2031. As the situation develops, NASA remains focused on ensuring the health and safety of its astronauts while continuing to support ongoing missions aboard the space station.