Nasa has announced that it will return a four-member crew currently stationed aboard the International Space Station (ISS) nearly a month ahead of schedule after one of the astronauts was diagnosed with a serious medical condition. The space agency said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure to prioritise the health and safety of the affected crew member, even though the situation does not qualify as an emergency evacuation.
Officials declined to identify the astronaut or disclose details of the medical condition, citing privacy concerns, but confirmed that the individual is in a stable condition. “This is not an emergency evacuation,” a senior Nasa official said, adding that the agency consistently adopts a cautious approach when it comes to astronaut health. “We always err on the side of the astronaut’s well-being.”
The decision follows the abrupt cancellation of a scheduled spacewalk earlier this week. On Wednesday, Nasa called off a planned extravehicular activity in which two astronauts were to step outside the ISS, citing a “medical concern” without elaborating further. The move sparked speculation, which was addressed a day later when Nasa formally announced that the entire crew would return to Earth earlier than planned.
The announcement was made by Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman during a press conference on Thursday, along with other senior agency officials. While they provided limited details, officials clarified that the medical issue was not related to spaceflight operations and was not the result of an injury sustained on the station. They also said that a clearer timeline for the crew’s return would be shared within the next 48 hours.
This marks a significant moment in the history of the ISS programme. According to Nasa, this is the first time since the space station became continuously occupied in the year 2000 that a crew has been brought back early due to a medical reason. Dr James Polk, Nasa’s chief health and medical officer, said it was also the first instance in the agency’s more than 65-year history that a mission was shortened specifically because of a medical issue.
The team set to return, known as Crew-11, includes Nasa astronauts Zena Cardman and veteran astronaut Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui representing the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. The crew travelled to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft in August last year and were originally scheduled to spend around six months in orbit, returning next month after a new crew arrived to replace them.
Even after Crew-11 departs, the ISS will not be left understaffed. Nasa officials confirmed that one American astronaut will remain aboard the station, along with two Russian cosmonauts, ensuring that essential operations continue uninterrupted.
The ISS is equipped with basic medical facilities, supplies and secure communication systems that allow doctors on Earth to consult privately with astronauts, assess symptoms and guide treatment, similar to a confidential telemedicine consultation. Despite these capabilities, Nasa decided that returning the crew early was the safest course of action.
Experts say the early return could have operational implications. Dr Simeon Barber, a space scientist at the Open University, noted that some scientific experiments and routine maintenance tasks may have to be postponed until the arrival of the next full crew. He explained that the ISS is designed to function optimally with a minimum number of crew members. “With fewer people on board, the team will likely need to scale back experimental work and focus on essential maintenance and keeping the station in good health until the full crew complement is restored,” he said.
While the decision may disrupt research schedules, Nasa officials emphasised that astronaut safety remains the agency’s top priority, even if it means altering long-planned missions.
 a month ahead){kind=link}