Nasa Astronaut Medical Emergency Prompts First Medical Evacuation in 25-Year ISS History
NASA has released new details after a nasa astronaut medical emergency aboard the International Space Station on Jan. 7 led to the first medical evacuation in the station's 25-year history, a move that sent Crew-11 home early so advanced imaging could be performed off‑station.
Nasa Astronaut Medical Emergency: NASA's account
NASA shared the account at the request of astronaut Mike Fincke, who on Jan. 7 "experienced a medical event that required immediate attention from my incredible crewmates, " Fincke wrote NASA posted online.
Fincke said, "Thanks to their quick response and the guidance of our NASA flight surgeons, my status quickly stabilized, " and added that "Spaceflight is an incredible privilege, and sometimes it reminds us just how human we are. " NASA described the return as the safest course to obtain advanced medical imaging not available on the station.
Crew-11 returned early for advanced imaging
NASA determined an early return for Crew-11 would allow Fincke to receive imaging on Earth, a decision described by Fincke as "not an emergency but a carefully coordinated plan. " The three crewmates who left the station with him included NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.
The Crew-11 vehicle splashed down off the coast of San Diego on Jan. 15 after a five-and-a-half-month mission, and Fincke specifically thanked the SpaceX team and medical professionals at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla near San Diego for their roles in the recovery.
Who was on station and who returned
Fincke expressed gratitude to his fellow Expedition 74 members by name: Zena Cardman, Kimiya Yui, Oleg Platonov, Chris Williams, Sergey Kud‑Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev, all of whom were involved in on-orbit response and subsequent operations during the early return.
After the Jan. 15 splashdown, Fincke said he is "doing very well and continuing standard post-flight reconditioning" at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, and he also referenced recovery work at NASA's base in Houston.
Impact on station operations and the crew left behind
The early return left just three crew members on the station — one American and two Russians — which prompted NASA to pause spacewalks and reduce research output while the station operated with the smaller team.
Those temporary limits were lifted after four new astronauts joined the station in February and normal service resumed.
Officials' statements and next steps
Following the return, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman described the Jan. 7 incident as a "serious situation" in orbit but said the crew member in question had been safe and stable ever since the return on Jan. 15.
NASA has said the early splashdown allowed access to advanced medical imaging and hospital care, and Fincke remains in post‑flight reconditioning at Johnson Space Center in Houston as teams continue any follow-up evaluations.
