This termination represents a huge and nearly unprecedented decision by NASA to end the Crew-11 mission early. This decision follows the communication of a serious medical condition involving one of the astronauts. As a reminder, the Crew-5 mission that launched to the International Space Station (ISS) in August 2022. Originally scheduled to run for approximately six months, the evaluation will conclude before its planned end date.
NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke round out the Crew-11 team. It features Kimiya Yui of Japan’s JAXA space agency and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. The premature end to their mission marks a significant moment in time. It’s the first time in NASA’s more than 65 years of operation that a mission has returned early due to a medical issue. This acts as an important milestone. Yet it marks the first early evacuation in the history of ISS, which has been continuously inhabited since the year 2000.
Virtually every official spoken to reported the basic medical support on the ISS is an element. It includes secure systems that allow doctors on the ground to consult confidentially with astronauts in space. Even the diagnosis of the astronaut’s ALTE was based on these resources. This underscores the need for extreme environments to prioritize safety over all else.
Dr. James Polk, NASA’s chief health and medical officer, reiterated that astronaut health and safety are paramount to the organization. He’s passionate about keeping astronauts healthy—physically and mentally—throughout their missions. The consideration to return Crew-11 was clearly taken with caution and care, putting astronaut well-being first and foremost.
“We always err on the side of the astronaut’s health,” – NASA official
The Crew-11 astronauts would have been welcomed back by yet another four-person crew on their return. The premature evacuation at least leaves open the question of how future missions like that would be handled if the same situation were to occur.
Dr. Simeon Barber emphasized the complexity of operations on the ISS, stating, “The space station is a big, complex feat of engineering. It’s designed to be operated by a certain minimum level of crew.” The impacts of having to return a crew early could require changes in how missions are developed and planned in the future.
Now, as another NASA crewed mission, Crew-11 prepares for their own homeward journey, NASA is continuing to watch the developing situation very closely. The agency remains committed to providing a safe environment for all astronauts flying on the ISS. It’s looking to increase both its current and future medical capacity for missions.