NASA orders “controlled medical evacuation” from the International Space Station
Ars Technica••science
Key Points:
- NASA is bringing home four of the seven International Space Station (ISS) crew members early due to a medical situation involving one Crew-11 astronaut, who is currently stable but requires a cautious return to Earth.
- The Crew-11 mission, launched August 1 and led by commander Zena Cardman, will end ahead of schedule with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, as the crew relies on a single SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft as their lifeboat.
- NASA has withheld specific details about the medical issue to protect the astronaut’s privacy but confirmed it was unrelated to planned spacewalk activities and required onboard medical intervention.
- After Crew-11’s departure, the ISS will operate with a reduced crew of three until the arrival of Crew-
