NASA’s Spacewalk Cancellation Sparks Scrutiny Of Astronaut Medical Protocols

NASA’s Astronaut Medical Protocols Put to the Test as Spacewalk Cancelled. A scheduled spacewalk outside the International Space Station, set to take place on Thursday, January 8, was abruptly cancelled on Wednesday afternoon due to “medical concerns” with an unidentified crew member of Crew-11, the latest SpaceX mission to the ISS. The quartet, comprising NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, have been residing on the orbiting lab since early August, with a planned six-month stay. The sudden cancellation has raised questions about NASA’s protocols for handling astronaut medical issues in space.

According to the agency, safely conducting missions is their highest priority, and they are actively evaluating all options, including the possibility of an earlier end to Crew-11’s mission. This would mark the first time ISS astronauts have had to prematurely end their orbital stint due to health reasons. NASA’s approach to astronaut medical issues is guided by caution.

The agency does not hesitate to postpone or cancel spacewalks if potential issues arise. Last summer, a spacewalk by Expedition 71 astronauts Tracy Dyson and Matt Dominick was called off due to “spacesuit discomfort,” even after they had begun don ← →