NASA is ending Crew-11 astronauts’ mission a month early

NASA has decided to carry the Crew-11 astronauts dwelling a month sooner than initially deliberate attributable to a “medical concern” with one in all them. That is the primary time in its historical past that the area company is slicing a mission quick attributable to a medical subject, but it surely didn’t determine the crew member or disclose the precise state of affairs and its severity. The company is concentrating on a return date no sooner than January 14, with the precise schedule relying on the climate. If NASA’s authentic plan pushes by way of, the crew will splash down off the coast of California at roughly 3:40 AM on January 15.

The company beforehand postponed an Worldwide House Station (ISS) spacewalk scheduled for January 8, citing a medical concern with a crew member that appeared the day earlier than. NASA’s chief well being and medical officer, James “JD” Polk, stated the affected astronaut is “completely secure” and that this isn’t a case of an emergency evacuation. The ISS has a “sturdy suite of medical {hardware}” onboard, he stated, however not sufficient for a whole workup to find out a analysis. With out a correct analysis, NASA doesn’t know if the astronaut’s well being may very well be negatively affected by the atmosphere aboard the ISS. That’s the reason the company is erring on the facet of warning.

Crew-11 left for the area station on August 1 and was supposed to return again to Earth on or round February 20. After they go away the station, solely three folks will stay: Two cosmonauts and one astronauts who’ll be accountable for all of the experiments presently being carried out on the orbiting lab. The crew’s substitute, Crew-12, was supposed to go to the ISS mid-February, however NASA is contemplating sending the astronauts to the station sooner than that.

Replace, January 10, 2025, 5:15AM ET: This story has been up to date to incorporate Crew-11’s tentative return date.