Four NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) returned to Earth ahead of schedule after one astronaut required undisclosed medical treatment. This was the first medical evacuation in space history.
On 15 Jan 2026 GMT+7, NASA conducted its first-ever evacuation of astronauts from the ISS after one crew member experienced health issues requiring medical care on Earth.
Four astronauts from the U.S., Russia, and Japan returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX vehicle, scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego on Thursday morning local time, ending the mission more than a month earlier than planned.
NASA astronaut Serena Cardman said before departure that the decision to return was unexpected but praised the crew's unity and support for each other like a family.
However, NASA officials declined to reveal the identity of the ill astronaut or details of the condition, citing medical privacy rights. They confirmed the issue was not an emergency and unrelated to spacewalk preparations.
Mike Fincke, the outgoing ISS commander, stated the astronaut receiving treatment was stable, safe, and properly cared for. The decision to bring them back was to allow comprehensive diagnosis on Earth. Meanwhile, one U.S. and two Russian astronauts remain on the ISS. NASA and SpaceX are expediting plans to send a new crew, targeting a mid-February launch.
Source: BBC