Nasa Astronaut Medical Emergency Prompts Crew-11 Early Return
NASA has released details of a nasa astronaut medical emergency aboard the International Space Station that led to the first medical evacuation in the station's 25-year history. The episode involved astronaut Mike Fincke on 7 January and produced a carefully coordinated decision to bring Crew-11 home early.
Nasa Astronaut Medical Emergency response
On 7 January, while aboard the International Space Station, Mike Fincke experienced a medical event that required immediate attention from his crewmates. Fincke said the crew's quick response, together with guidance from NASA flight surgeons, meant his status "quickly stabilized. " After further evaluation, NASA determined the safest course was an early return for Crew-11 so Fincke could undergo advanced medical imaging not available on the space station. Fincke described the plan as "not an emergency but a carefully coordinated plan. "
What happened on Jan. 7
The incident began on 7 January when Fincke experienced the medical event that prompted immediate in-orbit care. His statement, which NASA shared online at his request, thanked "my incredible crewmates" for their response and acknowledged the role of NASA flight surgeons in stabilizing his condition. He also said, "Spaceflight is an incredible privilege and sometimes it reminds us just how human we are. "
Crew-11 return and splashdown
The decision for an early return brought Fincke and the other three members of Crew-11 back from the station. The four-person crew—Fincke, fellow NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov—splashed down on 15 January off the coast of San Diego after spending five and a half months on the space station. Fincke called the mission "an amazing five-and-a-half-month mission. "
Medical care and locations
Fincke said he is "doing very well and continuing standard post-flight reconditioning" at NASA's base in Houston, and the NASA statement identified the Johnson Space Center in Houston as the location for that reconditioning. He expressed deep gratitude to his fellow Expedition 74 members—Zena Cardman, Kimiya Yui, Oleg Platonov, Chris Williams, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, and Sergei Mikayev—as well as the wider NASA team, SpaceX, and the medical professionals at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla near San Diego. He said their professionalism and dedication ensured a positive outcome.
Station impact and follow-up
The evacuation left only three crew members on board the station—one American and two Russians—and prompted a pause to space walks and a reduction in research output. After the January return, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman described the situation in orbit as a "serious situation" but said the crew member in question had been safe and stable ever since. Four new astronauts joined the station in February and normal service has resumed.
NASA noted that the early return made available advanced medical imaging that is not available on the ISS. Fincke thanked his crew, NASA and SpaceX teams, and his doctors for their care and assistance. He closed his statement by reiterating, "Spaceflight is an incredible privilege, and sometimes it reminds us just how human we are, " and thanking everyone for their support.
NASA also reiterated its broader mission, stating that it explores the unknown in air and space, innovates for the benefit of humanity, and inspires the world through discovery.
