During a press conference in Washington, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman announced the decision to bring the affected astronaut back to Earth due to the limitations of medical resources on the space station. The identity of the astronaut and the specific nature of the medical condition have not been disclosed to respect the crew member’s privacy.
The Crew-11 mission, consisting of US astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, has been onboard the space station since August last year. Originally scheduled to return in May, the crew had to cut their mission short due to the medical emergency.
The planned spacewalk, which was set to be conducted by Fincke and Cardman to install hardware outside the station, was called off due to the medical concern. Spacewalks are complex and risky operations that require extensive training and preparation.
NASA has a strict policy of confidentiality regarding medical issues on the ISS, with astronauts rarely discussing their health conditions publicly. In 2024, a spacewalk was canceled last-minute due to “spacesuit discomfort,” while in 2021, a spacewalk was called off due to a pinched nerve experienced by an astronaut.
The safety and well-being of astronauts onboard the International Space Station remain a top priority for NASA, and decisions regarding medical emergencies are made with careful consideration of the available resources and expertise.
