Medical evacuation: ISS mission cut short for health reasons

In the early hours of Thursday (January 15, 2026) NASA's Crew-11 mission concluded with a successful splashdown of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft off the coast of San Diego, California.

After spending 167 days aboard the International Space Station, astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Barratt from NASA, alongside JAXA's Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, returned to Earth at 3:41 am ET (8:41 am GMT).

The mission, which focused on scientific research, technology demonstrations, and station maintenance, marked another milestone in international space collaboration.Infrared footage captured the dramatic descent: parachutes deploying like shadowy blooms against the night sky, guiding the capsule through the atmosphere.

The astronauts undocked from the International Space Station on January 14, 2026, marking the agency's first medical evacuation since 1998, cutting their mission short by over a month.

A glowing plasma trail illuminated the reentry.

Recovery teams swiftly approached the bobbing spacecraft in the Pacific waves.

All crew members were transported to a nearby hospital for routine evaluations, ensuring their health after prolonged microgravity exposure.

This splashdown highlights the reliability of Dragon capsules, paving the way for future Artemis missions and beyond.

The crew departed due to a serious but stable medical issue with one unnamed astronaut, prioritising Earth-based diagnostics amid microgravity limitations; officials cancelled a spacewalk last week as precaution.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman noted the return follows standard procedures despite urgency.

"Our timing of this departure is unexpected, but what was not surprising to me was how well this crew came together as a family," NASA astronaut Zena Cardman shared pre-undocking, praising the group's supportiveness.

The Dragon capsule Endeavour follows a ~11-hour timeline, leaving three crew (two Russians, one NASA) aboard until Crew-12 arrives February 15.​

Chief Health Officer Dr. James Polk emphasized ISS medical kits' limits versus full ER capabilities; the stable patient needs no special reentry aid.