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ISLAMABAD: NASA and SpaceX will return the four astronauts of the Crew-11 mission from the International Space Station (ISS) on Jan. 14, cutting short their stay aboard the space station following a medical issue involving a crew member, the US space agency said on Monday.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2010797683796070660&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=384c2a3b4c5180f70fba7affb93efc2f29ddfa48&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 667px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>NASA said the decision was taken after consultations with flight surgeons and mission managers, concluding that the astronaut would be better evaluated and treated on Earth. The agency described the move as a precautionary medical return, stressing that the crew member is in stable condition and that the spacecraft and station remain safe. &ldquo;This is the first time in the International Space Station&rsquo;s 25-year history that a mission has been ended early for medical reasons,&rdquo; a NASA spokesperson said, calling the step &ldquo;unprecedented&rdquo; but necessary to prioritize the astronaut&#39;s health. Crew-11 launched to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft in August 2025 for a mission originally expected to last about six months. The crew includes NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Michael Fincke, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. NASA said it would not disclose the identity of the affected astronaut or details of the medical condition, citing privacy rules. Officials emphasized that there was no emergency aboard the station and that the return would follow standard procedures. The Crew Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to undock from the ISS on Jan. 14, with a splashdown off the US West Coast expected the following day, weather permitting. Recovery teams will be on standby, and NASA plans to conduct post-landing medical evaluations and briefings after the crew returns. NASA said the early departure would not significantly disrupt space station operations. Other astronauts and cosmonauts currently aboard the ISS will continue routine research and maintenance work. The agency added that it is reviewing whether adjustments are needed to the schedule for upcoming crew rotations.

Official portrait of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 to the International Space Station: from left, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov; NASA astronaut Mike Fincke; JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui; and NASA astronaut Zena Cardman. (Image: SpaceX)

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The astronauts are scheduled to depart the International Space Station on Jan. 14, weeks ahead of schedule, after doctors advised Earth-based evaluation, marking the first such health-related early return in the station’s 25-year history.

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NASA to bring SpaceX Crew-11 back early over medical concerns

NASA to bring SpaceX Crew-11 back early over medical concerns