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First Medical Evacuation in ISS History

First Medical Evacuation in ISS History

Crew-11's Early Return Tests 25 Years of Space Station Protocols

Today: Crew-11 Undocks from ISS

Overview

For 25 years, NASA has kept astronauts aboard the International Space Station without ever cutting a mission short for medical reasons. Statistical models predicted an evacuation roughly every three years. On January 14, 2026, that streak ended when SpaceX Crew Dragon undocked from the ISS carrying four astronauts home six weeks early—the first medical evacuation in the station's history.

One crew member experienced an undisclosed 'serious medical condition' on January 7 that ground controllers could diagnose but not treat in orbit. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, sworn in less than a month earlier, ordered an expedited return. The ISS now operates with a skeleton crew of three until Crew-12 launches in mid-February, leaving open questions about whether the station's aging infrastructure can sustain full operations through its planned 2030 retirement.

Key Indicators

25
Years without medical evacuation
The ISS has been continuously occupied since November 2000 without a crew member requiring early return for health reasons.
3
Remaining crew aboard ISS
Chris Williams becomes the sole American aboard until Crew-12 arrives, joined by two Russian cosmonauts.
~6 weeks
Mission time cut short
Crew-11 was scheduled to return in late February; they are now departing January 14.
166
Days in space at undocking
Crew-11 launched August 1, 2025 for a planned 6-8 month mission.

People Involved

Zena Cardman
Zena Cardman
Crew-11 Commander (Returning to Earth)
Michael Fincke
Michael Fincke
Crew-11 Pilot (Returning to Earth)
Kimiya Yui
Kimiya Yui
Crew-11 Mission Specialist (Returning to Earth)
Oleg Platonov
Oleg Platonov
Crew-11 Mission Specialist (Returning to Earth)
Jared Isaacman
Jared Isaacman
NASA Administrator (Managing evacuation)
Chris Williams
Chris Williams
ISS Flight Engineer (Remaining) (Aboard ISS)

Organizations Involved

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Federal Agency
Status: Managing evacuation and ISS transition

The U.S. space agency operating the American segment of the ISS and coordinating commercial crew missions.

SpaceX
SpaceX
Commercial Spaceflight Provider
Status: Conducting evacuation

The primary provider of crew transportation to the ISS under NASA's Commercial Crew Program since 2020.

Timeline

  1. Crew-11 Splashdown (Scheduled)

    Recovery

    Crew Dragon expected to splash down off the coast of California, completing the first medical evacuation in ISS history.

  2. Crew-11 Undocks from ISS

    Operations

    SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour undocks from the Harmony module, beginning the return journey with all four crew members aboard.

  3. Change of Command Ceremony

    Operations

    Crew-11 conducts accelerated handover procedures, transferring ISS command ahead of schedule.

  4. NASA Announces Early Return

    Decision

    Administrator Isaacman holds press conference announcing the first medical evacuation in ISS history. He confirms the condition is serious but stable and cannot be properly treated in orbit.

  5. Medical Situation Occurs

    Medical

    A Crew-11 member experiences an undisclosed medical condition. A planned spacewalk for January 8 is immediately cancelled.

  6. Jared Isaacman Sworn In as NASA Administrator

    Leadership

    Former Inspiration4 commander takes the helm at NASA, less than a month before facing his first major operational decision.

  7. Chris Williams Arrives on Soyuz

    Crew Arrival

    NASA astronaut Chris Williams and two Russian cosmonauts arrive aboard Soyuz MS-28, joining the Crew-11 members as part of Expedition 74.

  8. ISS Marks 25 Years of Continuous Occupation

    Milestone

    The station celebrates a quarter century of uninterrupted human presence, with more than 290 people from 26 countries having lived aboard.

  9. Crew-11 Launches to ISS

    Launch

    SpaceX Crew Dragon carrying Cardman, Fincke, Yui, and Platonov lifts off from Kennedy Space Center for a planned 6-8 month mission.

  10. Blood Clot Treated in Orbit

    Medical

    An astronaut is diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis during a research ultrasound. Ground physicians guide treatment with blood thinners, and the crew member completes the mission without evacuation.

  11. First Crew Arrives at ISS

    Milestone

    Expedition 1 crew begins continuous human occupation of the International Space Station, a streak that continues to this day.

Scenarios

1

Crew Member Recovers, Crew-12 Launches on Schedule

Discussed by: NASA officials, spaceflight analysts at SpaceNews and Ars Technica

The affected crew member receives treatment on the ground and recovers fully. The identity and condition may or may not be disclosed publicly, per medical privacy considerations. Crew-12 launches in mid-February as planned, restoring full ISS staffing. This becomes a validation of NASA's medical protocols rather than a crisis point.

2

Crew-12 Launch Accelerated, Staffing Gap Minimized

Discussed by: NASA mission planners, industry observers at NASASpaceFlight.com

NASA pushes Crew-12's launch earlier than the February 15 target to reduce the period of skeleton crew operations. This requires accelerating spacecraft and crew readiness but maintains research continuity aboard the station.

3

Crew-12 Delayed, Extended Skeleton Crew Operations

Discussed by: Former astronauts, ISS program analysts

Technical or weather issues delay Crew-12 beyond mid-February. Chris Williams operates as the sole American aboard for weeks, limiting U.S. research activities and maintenance capabilities. This raises questions about ISS operational resilience as it approaches end of life.

4

Medical Protocols Revised for Future Missions

Discussed by: Space medicine experts at Scientific American, former NASA flight surgeons

The evacuation prompts NASA to re-evaluate medical capabilities aboard the ISS and requirements for future commercial stations. Discussions intensify about enhanced diagnostic equipment, telemedicine capabilities, and crew medical training for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.

Historical Context

Salyut 7 Medical Evacuation (1985)

November 1985

What Happened

Soviet commander Vladimir Vasyutin fell seriously ill two months into his mission aboard the Salyut 7 space station. The condition was severe enough that he and his two crewmates returned to Earth early. Soviet officials never publicly disclosed the nature of his illness.

Outcome

Short Term

The crew landed safely. Vasyutin never flew in space again.

Long Term

The incident remained one of only a handful of documented early returns for medical reasons in Soviet/Russian space station history, predating the ISS era.

Why It's Relevant Today

The closest precedent to the Crew-11 situation. Unlike the ISS, Soviet stations lacked the robust medical support network now available through constant communication with ground teams.

ISS Blood Clot Treatment (2019)

2019

What Happened

An astronaut was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in the jugular vein during a routine research ultrasound—the first such case in space. Radiologists on Earth guided the astronaut through follow-up scans in real time. NASA physician Dr. Stephan Moll was brought in as a consultant.

Outcome

Short Term

The astronaut was treated with blood thinners available aboard the station, supplemented by an emergency resupply. The mission continued without evacuation.

Long Term

The case was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and informed protocols for treating vascular conditions in microgravity.

Why It's Relevant Today

Demonstrates the difference between conditions that can be managed in orbit and those requiring ground-based care. The blood clot was serious but treatable with available resources; the Crew-11 condition apparently was not.

Apollo 13 Emergency Return (1970)

April 1970

What Happened

An oxygen tank explosion 56 hours into the mission crippled the command module, forcing astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise to use the lunar module as a lifeboat. Engineers improvised solutions to power, navigation, and carbon dioxide removal problems in real time.

Outcome

Short Term

The crew splashed down safely after four harrowing days. Fred Haise suffered a kidney infection but recovered.

Long Term

Called 'NASA's finest hour,' the mission prompted extensive spacecraft redesigns and established protocols for in-flight emergencies that inform procedures to this day.

Why It's Relevant Today

While a mechanical rather than medical emergency, Apollo 13 established the principle that getting crew home safely supersedes mission objectives—the same calculus NASA applied to Crew-11.

12 Sources:
+6
NASA Space.com Spaceflight Now Scientific American SpaceNews NPR CBS News CNN New England Journal of Medicine Scientific American Space.com NASA