Jan 9, 2026, 6:26 amJan 9, 2026, 6:26 am
For the first time in the history of the International Space Station (ISS), the US space agency NASA is bringing a crew of four astronauts back to Earth early due to health problems of a crew member. The return flight is planned for “the coming days,” NASA announced at a press conference. A precise schedule should be announced as soon as possible.
This is what the International Space Station ISS looks like.Image: www.imago-images.de
“I have come to the decision that it is in the best interest of our astronauts to bring Crew 11 back before their scheduled departure,” said new NASA boss Jared Isaacman. You should always be prepared for such situations.
NASA chief medic: “No emergency”
NASA did not want to comment on the identity of the crew member or details of the health problems. But it has nothing to do with the work of the crew on board the ISS and it is not an emergency, said NASA’s chief medical officer, James Polk. The crew member is in stable condition. “There are still risks and questions about the diagnosis. This means that a risk remains for the astronaut on board. Ensuring the astronaut’s health and well-being is a priority, he emphasized.
Medical problems such as toothaches have often occurred among ISS astronauts. Many things can be treated on site. “We have a wide range of medical technology on board the International Space Station. “But we don’t have the complete range of medical technology that I would have in an emergency room, for example,” Polk continued. In this particular situation, it is best to continue the medical workup on the case on Earth.
Successor crew could now start earlier
NASA had previously canceled an external mission to the ISS planned for Thursday at short notice due to the crew member’s health problems. The US astronauts Zena Cardman and Michael Fincke were supposed to take part in the external mission. Together with the Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui and the Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, they have been on board the ISS as “Crew 11” since the beginning of August. They were supposed to stay there for a few more weeks. Another outdoor operation was actually planned for next week. It was the first flight into space for Cardman and Platonov, the second for Yui and the fourth for Fincke.
NASA astronaut Christopher Williams and the two cosmonauts Sergei Mikaev and Sergei Kud-Swertchkov are also currently on board the ISS. They flew to the ISS on a Soyuz rocket in November and are expected to stay until the summer.
French astronaut part of the next ISS crew
The launch of the successor to “Crew 11” was planned for mid-February and could now be brought forward, NASA said. “Crew 12” consists of Nasa astronaut Jessica Meir, her colleague Jack Hathaway, a French astronaut from the European Space Agency Esa, Sophie Adenot, and cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev.
Astronauts from all over the world have been living and researching on board the ISS for around 25 years. (dab/sda/dpa)
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