Ailing astronaut returns to Earth early in NASA's first medical evacuation
WRAL • • general
Key Points:
- NASA conducted its first-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station, returning an ailing astronaut and three others to Earth more than a month early via a SpaceX capsule splashdown near San Diego.
- The astronaut who developed a serious medical condition last week remains stable and is undergoing in-depth medical checks at a hospital, though NASA has not disclosed their identity or the nature of the illness due to medical privacy.
- The early return forced NASA to postpone planned spacewalks and left the space station with only one American and two Russian crew members, limiting its operational capabilities until the arrival of a new crew targeted for mid-February.
- NASA is simultaneously preparing for the launch of the next space station crew and the Artemis moon mission, with
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