On Thursday, four of those astronauts from Crew 11 splashed down back on Earth. They were gone a total of just over a month since undocking from the International Space Station (ISS). Crew members Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, Kimiya Yui, and Oleg Platonov docked with the ISS on August 1. They were scheduled to finish out an expected typical six-and-a-half-month visit aboard the space station.
The return journey began when Crew 11 disembarked the Dragon Endeavour spacecraft at approximately 01:30 local time and 09:30 GMT. Their return to Earth took just 11 hours, ending with a splashdown off the coast of California.
The early evacuation came as a result of a medical emergency involving one of the crew members aboard the ship. While the cause of illness is still unannounced, the mission was abruptly STFO ’ed for a very important reason. Protecting the health and safety of all astronauts engaged— Boeing, NASA, and contractor personnel — took precedence with this decision.
Since arriving, the astronauts had been performing scientific experiments and maintenance chores aboard the ISS. Their intended long-duration stay would have advanced humanity’s fundamental understanding of the microgravity environment and its effects on human health.
Upon their return, Crew 11 was welcomed back by support crews ready to perform in-depth medical assessments, as needed. Ensuring astronauts’ health continues to be of prime concern since their unexpected departure from the station.