NASA to bring ISS Crew-11 astronauts back to Earth earlier than planned after medical situation

In a significant development, NASA has announced the early return of the Crew-11 astronauts from the International Space Station, scheduling their landing for Saturday. This decision comes in response to a medical incident involving an unnamed crew member, as revealed by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on Thursday. Previously, NASA had to delay a planned spacewalk due to this medical situation, which emerged on Wednesday. The spacewalk was set to feature ISS Commander Mike Fincke and flight engineer Zena Cardman as they ventured outside the station for approximately 6.5 hours to install essential cables and power equipment for a new solar array. While the agency has opted not to disclose the identity of the affected crew member, Isaacman confirmed that their condition is stable. Initially, Crew-11's return was slated for March 2026. This team includes astronauts from NASA, Japan, and Russia, specifically Kimiya Yui and Oleg Platonov. The Crew-11 astronauts launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on August 1, 2025. This announcement marks a critical moment, and updates are expected as the situation develops.