NASA Considers Early Return Of ISS Crew Due To Unspecified Medical Issue

In the vast expanse of space, a medical issue has become a pressing concern for NASA. A rare early return of the International Space Station’s crew is being considered due to an unspecified medical issue involving one of the astronauts. According to NBC News, the situation involves a single crew member who is stable, and NASA is actively evaluating all options, including the possibility of an earlier end to Crew-11’s mission. The crew, consisting of U. S. astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, has been on the space station since launching from Florida in August. Their scheduled return was set for around May this year, but a medical concern that arose on Wednesday afternoon has prompted NASA to reassess their stay.

As NBC News reports, astronauts typically — in six to eight-month rotations on the ISS, with access to basic medical equipment and medications for some types of emergencies. However, the specifics of this medical issue have not been disclosed. The station’s designated commander, Fincke, and Cardman, assigned as flight engineer, were scheduled to conduct a 6. 5-hour spacewalk on Thursday to install hardware outside the station, but this has been cancelled.