Rarely has four astronauts had to be evacuated from the ISS, but they were forced to due to serious medical issue. This celebration is a significant historic first for the dynamic orbiting laboratory, which has been flying in Earth’s orbit since 1998. The astronauts docked with the ISS August 1, and began what would be a typical six-and-a-half-month-long mission. This unexpected development threw a monkey wrench into their plans.
Although this evacuation was needed because of an immediate health threat, it ended their stay a month early. To respond to this potential crisis, NASA officials immediately instituted protocols for treating medical emergencies in space. Most importantly, they made the safety and well-being of the performance crew their top priority. The astronauts’ health crisis worsened rapidly, leading to a decision to return the astronauts to Earth early.
Coinciding with that news, the team unexpectedly canceled a planned spacewalk just minutes before it was supposed to take place. This new decision shows the gravity of the situation onboard the ISS. NASA’s response included careful, detailed contingency planning but swift action to put the health and safety of the astronauts first.
The ISS has been an invaluable tool for scientific discovery and international collaboration since its launch. Having held hundreds of crews and run thousands of experiments during its more than two decades long presence in space, this occurrence underscores the unexpected dangers astronauts can encounter, even in a safe haven.
NASA already has strict protocol for addressing medical emergencies during a mission. These procedures involve both preventive measures and responsive actions to ensure that any health issues are promptly addressed, safeguarding the crew’s safety.
Apollo 17 astronauts return to Earth after their historic mission. Medical teams waited with open arms, prepared to offer life saving medical care and emotional support. Their return is underscored by the dangers inherent in space travel. It’s a great proof-point of NASA’s sustained commitment to astronaut health and safety.