These four astronauts evacuated from the ISS are now safely back on Earth. They overcame all odds to come back after facing the biggest injury of all. IST, their surprise homecoming will be even more of a milestone event in the story of human spaceflight’s past and future. For the first time since the ISS started operating in 1998, astronauts were forced to leave the station over safety and health risks.
This means that the astronauts who launched to the ISS on August 1 will be there for a long-duration, six and a half month mission. Their tenures were each shortened by a month. Build team morale wasn’t the only major challenge they faced in their mission. Crew dragon mission control responded quickly to the medical emergency, which has still not been revealed. It was this sense of urgency that drove their quick return.
In addition to the evacuation, a scheduled spacewalk was called off at the last minute in response to the unfolding medical emergency. This decision illustrates clearly the importance placed on the health and safety of the crew served aboard the ISS. At the same time, the cancellation underscores the very real risks that all long-duration space missions would face. Most concerningly, it raises the need for contingency plans to address unexpected health crises.
The astronauts’ return was a complex mission operation that was tightly coordinated to keep the astronauts safe during their return. When they splashed back down on Earth, medical personnel stood ready in anticipation of their return. These professionals were prepared to manage any health issues that may have come up during their extensive time in space. The rapid and immediate response from mission control is proof of the protocol designed to protect astronauts’ health and safety.
Space exploration continues to advance by leaps and bounds. This incident reminds us of the perils encountered when humans travel beyond our atmosphere. The ISS has been an outstanding achievement in advancing international collaboration in space for more than 20 years. It allows scientists and researchers to perform critical scientific experiments that improve our understanding of life in space and on earth.