Nasa has announced the first-ever evacuation of astronauts from the International Space Station following a medical emergency aboard the orbital outpost.
Administrator Jared Isaacman confirmed during a press conference on Thursday that Crew-11 would be returning to Earth ahead of schedule, with the precise details of their journey home to be determined within the next 48 hours.
The space agency chief said: "I've come to the decision that it's in the best interest of our astronauts to return Crew-11 ahead of their planned departure."
The unprecedented decision marks a historic moment for the space agency, which has maintained a continuous human presence on the station for more than 25 years but has never previously needed to bring crew members home early for medical reasons.
Nasa has maintained a continuous human presence on the station for more than 25 years
| GETTYThe astronaut experiencing the medical issue, whose identity has not been disclosed for privacy reasons, is currently in a stable condition and receiving care from fellow crew members.
Dr James Polk, Nasa's chief health and medical officer, emphasised that while the situation was being treated as serious, there was no immediate danger requiring an emergency response.
"It's not an emergency evacuation, but we are erring on the side of caution for the crew member," Dr Polk explained.
The chief medical officer clarified that the health problem was unrelated to any planned spacewalk activities or other station operations, describing it instead as a challenge arising from "having a medical issue in the difficult areas of microgravity."
Jared Isaacman said it was in 'best interest of our astronauts' to bring them back to Earth
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No additional safety measures would be required to keep the affected astronaut secure until their return, officials confirmed.
Crew-11 comprises four astronauts - Americans Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, alongside Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.
The team arrived at the space station on August 1 and had originally been scheduled to depart in late February following the arrival of their replacements.
Hours before Mr Isaacman's announcement, Nasa scrapped a planned 6-hour spacewalk that would have seen Mr Fincke, the station's designated commander, and flight engineer Mr Cardman installing hardware on the exterior of the orbiting laboratory.
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Astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui and Oleg Platonov make up Crew‑11
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The crew had recently been joined by Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata and Nasa astronaut Chris Williams, who reached the station via a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in November 2025.
The Nasa administrator confirmed that Mr Williams would remain aboard to ensure America maintains its presence on the station.
Although this represents the first crew evacuation in ISS history, contingency plans for such scenarios have always been incorporated into mission protocols, with return vehicles maintained on standby at all times.
Mr Isaacman indicated the agency was seeking appropriate opportunities to utilise existing landing sites rather than arranging an emergency touchdown.
He also stressed that any adjustments to Crew-12's launch schedule would not affect the Artemis II mission planned for February 2026, describing them as "totally separate campaigns."
Artemis II will mark humanity's first crewed lunar orbit since 1972.
Previous health-related disruptions have occurred on the station, though none necessitated early crew returns.
In 2021, astronaut Mark Vande Hei abandoned a spacewalk due to a pinched nerve, while another was cancelled in 2024 following "spacesuit discomfort".