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NASA Crew-11 splashdown livestream resumes at 2:15 am ET
NASA’s four Crew-11 astronauts have begun their hourslong journey back to Earth after today’s successful undocking from the International Space Station, but the agency has paused its live broadcast of the first-ever medical evacuation in space for now.
Crew-11 astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui and Oleg Platonov will spend about 10.5 hours orbiting Earth before beginning their splashdown run.
NASA’s livestream will return at 2:15 a.m. EST (0715 GMT) ahead of a deorbit burn manuever that will place the astronauts on track for a planned 3:41 a.m. EST (0841 GMT) splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California.
Our live coverage will now pause for a few hours. We will resume live updates once NASA’s coverage resumes. You will be able to watch the splashdown live on this page.
Tariq Malik
Crew-11 Dragon undocks from the International Space Station
The Crew-11 mission’s Crew Dragon capsule, named Endeavour, undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) today (Jan. 14) at 5:20 p.m. EST (2220 GMT).
Endeavour is carrying NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui and cosmonaut Oleg Platonov back down to Earth. If all goes to plan, the quartet will splash down off the California coast on Thursday (Jan. 15) at 3:41 a.m. EST (0841 GMT).
Their return is happening about a month ahead of schedule; NASA decided to end Crew-11 early to deal with a medical issue experienced by one of the astronauts on orbit. The agency has not revealed the identity of the astronaut or the nature of the issue.
Mike Wall
NASA livestream for Crew-11 undocking begins
NASA’s live undocking webcast for today’s Crew-11 medical evacuation of the International Space Station has begun.
The livestream, which you can see at the top of this page, will cover the planned 5:20 p.m. EST (2220 GMT) undocking of the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft carrying four astronauts on NASA’s Crew-11 mission to begin an 11-hour journey back to Earth.
The undocking was originally scheduled for 5:05 p.m. EST, but was delayed slightly due to delays leading up to the hatch closure between the Dragon and ISS.
Inside the Dragon spacecraft, Crew-11 commander Zena Cardman, pilot Mike Fincke, and mission specialists Kimiya Yui of Japan and Oleg Platonov of Russia are suited up in thir SpaceX pressure suits ahead of today’s planned undocking.
Splashdown remains set for about 3:41 a.m. EST (0841 GMT) on Thursday morning, Jan. 15, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California.
NASA livestream for Crew-11 undocking resumes @ 4:45 pm ET
Tariq Malik
All Crew-11 astronauts suited for undocking
All four astronauts are now wearing their SpaceX pressure suits as hatch closure activities continue.
In live video, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov can be seen in their suits woring on tasks, but not yet in their seats.
Tariq Malik
Crew-11 astronauts ‘feeling great’ ahead of ISS departure
NASA spokesperson Rob Navias reports that the four Crew-11 astronauts departing the International Space Station today are “feeling great” and “ready to come home” for their earlier -than-planned undocking from the station following NASA’s call for a “controlled medical evacuation” last week.
The astronauts are stowing some final items inside their SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft Endeavour. Some are suited up in their SpaceX pressure suits ahead of hatch closure and undocking, Navias said.
Crew-11 commander Zena Cardman and pilot Mike Fincke are two of the astronauts in their suits already. Live camera views shows them in their Dragon seats and running through departure checklists.
How to watch NASA’s Crew-11 undocking from the ISS
Hatch Closure – Livestream @ 3 pm ET
The first major event will be the closure of hatches between the Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft returning the Crew-11 astronauts to Earth and the ISS. NASA’s livestream for the event will begin at 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT), with hatch closure itself scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EST (2030 GMT).
The hatch closure livestream could be a rather straightforward affair, with live video showing views of the astronauts entering the Dragon capsule, shutting the hatch and reporting down to Mission Control. In the past, some ISS crews have had a brief farewell message before entering their spacecraft, trading hugs and handshakes with the crewmates remaining behind on the station.
Undocking – Livestream begins @ 4:45 pm ET
The next major event is undocking itself.
The Crew-11 Dragon capsule is scheduled to depart the ISS at 5:05 p.m. EST (2205 GMT), with NASA’s livestream beginning at about 4:45 p.m. EST (2145 GMT).
During undocking, you can expect to see live video of the Dragon spacecraft separating from the International Space Station, views inside the spacecraft of the astronauts in their SpaceX pressure suits and views of the ISS from the Dragon capsule.
NASA typically shows live views of the event through a departure burn by the Dragon capsule that puts it on a path back to Earth.
Splashdown – livestream begins at 2:15 a.m. ET
The Crew-11 Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to splashdown about 11 hours after undocking, with a NASA livestream beginning on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 2:15 a.m. EST (0715 GMT). Splashdown itself is expected to occur at 3:41 a.m. EST (0841 GMT).
Because splashdown is occuring at night, it may be difficult to see the spacecraft actually splash down in the Pacific Ocean. NASA’s livestream will begin near the time of a deorbit burn, which will place the Dragon capsule on course for splashdown.
NASA recovery teams and aircraft will track the spacecraft’s reentry and the live video may show infrared views of that reentry and the capsule under its parachutes ahead of splashdown.
Typically, NASA and SpaceX aim to recover the capsule and help the crew out of a Dragon capsule within about an hour of splashdown.
Post splashdown press conference – livestream @ 5:45 a.m.
NASA will end its splashdown operations with a post-landing press conference, where officials – possibly even NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman – will discuss the results of the landing and the current state of the crew.
That crew status is of specific interest for Crew-11 because the astronauts’ return to Earth is coming at least a month or so earlier than planned as a “controlled medical evacuation” from the ISS due to an unspecified medical issue with one of the four astronauts. NASA will not specify the nature of that medical issue or which astronaut is experiencing it due to medical privacy concerns.
Tariq Malik
JAXA’s Crew-11 astronaut says photo farewells to space
こんにちは！いよいよ、地球へ出発の日がやってきました。最近昼の日本を撮影する機会がなかったのですが、最後の最後に日本の太平洋側を通過しました。富士山が、夕陽で少し紅色のお化粧をして見送ってくれました。宇宙からの富士山も昼の日本も見納めです！素晴らしい景色をありがとう！ pic.twitter.com/gzQtYIbuslJanuary 14, 2026
In other, he marveled at the awesome site of the Andromeda Galaxy from space.
“While gazing at the light from when the history of the genus Homo began, I thought about humanity 2.5 million years from now. If we can act while considering the next generations, it will surely become an unimaginably wonderful era!” he wrote.
明日はいよいよISSを出発して地球へ帰ります。その前に宇宙から撮影してみたかったアンドロメダ銀河を撮影出来ました。ホモ属の歴史が始まった頃の光を見ながら、250万年後の人類に思いを馳せました。次の世代の事を考えながら行動できれば、きっと想像できない程素晴らしい時代になっているでしょう！ pic.twitter.com/sm9MFuRVB1January 13, 2026
Yui managed to share one final timelapse video of Earth from space, but promised to share more after Crew-11 returns to Earth.
“Please enjoy this packed nightscape full of highlights like the aurora, North America, moonrise, Central America, South America, the Milky Way, swarming satellites, sunrise, and more! he wrote. “Even after returning to Earth, I’ll post the videos and photos I couldn’t cover.”
私は、宇宙での最後の運動中です！そして、こちらは私がISSから紹介する最後のタイムラプス映像になると思います。オーロラ、北米、月の出、中米、南米、天の川、飛び交う衛星、日の出など、見どころ満載の夜景をお楽しみください！地球へ帰還後も、紹介しきれなかった動画や写真をポストしますね。 pic.twitter.com/x2CL9NdJ0DJanuary 14, 2026
And finally, he bid one final photo farewell to Japan’s Kibo laboratory on the ISS, the largest module on the space station.
“After this, I’ll be busy with preparations for returning, so this will be my last post from space. I’ve also said goodbye to “Kibo”-kun.,” he wrote. “The days I worked here were, I think, the most shining moments in my life. I am truly grateful to everyone for all the support you gave me.”
この後、帰還準備で忙しくなるので、宇宙からのポストはこれが最後です。「きぼう」君にも別れを告げました。ここで仕事をした日々は、私の人生で最も輝いていた瞬間だったと思います。皆さんにも沢山応援して頂き、本当に感謝しています。広大な宇宙で最も美しい星「地球」でお会いしましょう！ pic.twitter.com/F3KtNvwr92January 14, 2026
Crew-11 astronauts to depart ISS today
Good morning. Undocking day has come for NASA’s four Crew-11 astronauts as they prepare for their unprecedented medical evacuation from the International Space Station.
The Crew-11 astronauts — NASA’s Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, along with Kimiya Yui of Japan and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov — will depart the ISS today aboard their SpaceX Dragon capsule Endeavour. Undocking is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. EST (2305 GMT), with hatches between Dragon and the ISS to be closed around 3:30 p.m. EST (2030 GMT). A NASA livestream will begin at 3 p.m. EST (2030 GMT).
You can see the full livestream schedule in our full story by Josh Dinner:
Watch Crew-11 astronauts undock in 1st-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station today
If you’re just joining us, here’s a brief recap of what happened on the ISS:
Last week, on Wednesday, Jan. 7, one of the four Crew-11 astronauts suffered a medical issue that prompted NASA to end their mission about a month early and evacuate the team from the ISS. NASA is keeping the identity of the afflicted astronaut confidential for medical privacy concerns.
The issue led NASA to cancel two planned spacewalks for Crew-11 astronauts Zena Cardman and MIke Fincke, with NASA chief Jared Isaacman announcing the medical evacuation plan on Jan 8. The Crew-11 astronauts arrived at the ISS in August 2025 and still had at least a month left of their mission.
The departure of Crew-11 will leave the ISS with a skeleton crew of three people — Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchov, Sergey Kud-Sverchov and NASA astronaut Chris Williams – who arrived at the ISS in November.
After undocking, the Crew-11 astronauts will spend about 11 hours in orbit before their planned splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the Southern California coast at about 3:40 a.m. EST (0840 GMT).
Tariq Malik
Crew-11 astronauts are ‘go’ for Jan. 14 medical evacuation from ISS
The four astronauts of SpaceX’s Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) are officially “go” to return to Earth on Wednesday (Jan. 14).
Mission managers gave the go-ahead for undocking today (Jan. 13), NASA officials announced in an update. NASA’s Zena Cardman will command Crew-11’s SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, named Endeavour, while fellow agency astronaut Mike Fincke will serve as pilot. The other two crewmembers, Japan’s Kimiya Yui and cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, are mission specialists.
Crew-11 arrived at the ISS in early August and was supposed to remain there until mid-February. However, a medical issue arose last week with one of the four crewmembers — NASA has not announced which one, citing privacy concerns — prompting the first-ever medical evacuation from the orbiting lab.
Undocking is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. EST (2205 GMT) on Wednesday, with splashdown expected less than 11 hours later. And it looks like Mother Nature will cooperate with this plan.
“Weather is looking excellent for Dragon’s parachute-assisted splashdown off the coast of California at 3:41 a.m. [EST] on Thursday,” NASA officials wrote in the update.
Mike Wall
“The time I have left in space is also running out.”
Crew-11 astronauts are winding down their last 24 hours aboard the International Space Station. Tomorrow (Jan. 14) at around 3:30 p.m. EST (2030 GMT), NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov and Japan’s Kimiya Yui will close the hatch on their SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour and prepare to undock from the ISS.
As they pack and prepare, each are savoring their last views of Earth from space, like this one from Yui posted on X, featuring Japan’s HTV-X cargo vehicle docked with the Earth-facing port of the station’s Harmony module.
“The time I have left in space is also running out,” a translation of Yui’s post reads. “Today, my hero ‘HTV-X’-kun guided me through the night sky of Earth & space.”
おはようございます！私に残された宇宙での時間も、残り僅かです。今日は、私のヒーロー「HTV-X」君に夜の地球&宇宙を案内してもらいました。天の川、マゼラン雲と昨日のオーロラほどの派手さはありませんが、宇宙の広大さを感じさせる味のあるタイムラプスと思っています。日本の姿も美しいです！ pic.twitter.com/4aqZ05tuHSJanuary 12, 2026
Josh Dinner
Crew-11 saves time for some last-minute science as they prepare their departure
After yesterday’s change of command ceremony, astronauts aboard the International Space Station began preparing their SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for departure. Amid the prep, however, there is still time for science.
An update describes NASA astronaut Zena Cardman using the station’s Ultrasound 2 instrument to image NASA astronaut Chris Williams’ arteries and collected blood pressure measurements. The two also conducted an ocular examination on one of Cardman’s eyes, to assess how her retina, cornea, and lens have been affected by microgravity.
NASA is still targeting Wednesday (Jan. 14) at 5 p.m. EST (2200) for Crew-11’s undocking from the ISS. They are expected to splash down off the U.S. Pacific Coast aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endeavour about 11 hours later.
Josh Dinner
Crew-11 astronauts pack Dragon for ISS departure
“At the end of Monday’s shift, the foursome retrieved computer tablets from inside Dragon and reviewed the steps they will use while departing the station and reentering Earth’s atmosphere,” NASA wrote in an afternoon update.
Tariq Malik
Crew-11 pilot hands ISS control over in heartfelt ceremony
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, pilot of the Crew-11 mission, officially relinquished command of the International Space Station’s Expedition 74 mission today in a heartfelt ceremony that ended it a 7-astronaut group hug.
Read our full story: ‘It is bittersweet’: Crew-11 astronaut hands over control of ISS ahead of 1st-ever medical evacuation
Fincke turned control of the ISS over to Russian cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchov during the ceremony, and even handed a golden key to the station over to its new chief.
“We’re leaving you all with a lot of work, but also with a lot of knowledge knowing that you guys are really going to do super well,” Fincke said to Kud-Sverchkov.
The ceremony came just two days before Fincke and three other Crew-11 astronauts will depart the ISS in a “controlled medical evacuation” due to a medical concern with one of the astronauts. NASA called for the early departure – the first of its kind on the ISS – on Jan. 8 after one of the astronauts experienced a medical issue the day before.
The Crew-11 SpaceX Dragon capsule will undock from the ISS on Jan. 14 to return Fincke to Earth alongside Crew-11 commander Zena Cardman of NASA, and mission specialists Kimiya Yui of Japan and Oleg Platonov of Russia. NASA is not identifying which astronaut suffered the medical issue out of privacy concerns.
The Crew-11 astronauts are scheduled to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California early on Thursday, Jan. 15. They arrived at the ISS in August 2025.
Tariq Malik
Watch NASA Crew-11 astronaut hand over control of the ISS today
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke will hand command of the International Space Station‘s current Expedition 74 mission over to cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov today (Jan. 12) during a ceremony that starts at 2:35 p.m. EST (1935 GMT). You can watch it live via NASA+, Amazon Prime, and NASA’s YouTube channel.
Fincke is one of the four astronauts of SpaceX‘s Crew-11 mission, which will head back to Earth on Wednesday (Jan. 14). Crew-11 was supposed to stay at the ISS for another month but is coming home early due to a medical issue with one of its astronauts. NASA has not revealed the identity of that crewmember, citing privacy concerns.
The other Crew-11 astronauts are NASA’s Zena Cardman, Japan’s Kimiya Yui and cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.
Mike Wall
Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui captures stunning view of aurora ahead of ISS departure
おはようございます！仕事の隙間を狙っての撮影が続いています。私がまもなく帰還するのを知って、太陽さんが頑張ってくれたのか、とても美しいオーロラを撮影する事が出来ました。撮影できた事も嬉しかったですが、何より映像を見て皆さんが喜んでくださる様子を思い浮かべ、1人で微笑みました笑。 pic.twitter.com/qQJDpqlq1UJanuary 11, 2026
A change of command ceremony aboard the ISS is scheduled today at 2:35 p.m. EST (1835 GMT), and will be webcast live on NASA TV, NASA+ and the space agency’s streaming service and social media platforms.
Josh Dinner
Crew-11 pilot to hand control of station over today
Good morning. NASA and SpaceX are now two days away from their planned “controlled medical evacuation” of four Crew-11 astronauts from the International Space Station.
To prepare for that departure, Crew-11 pilot Mike Fincke of NASA, who has been commanding the joint Expedition 74 crew on the ISS, will officially relinquish his command in a change-of-command ceremony that will shift control of the orbting lab over to Russian cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov.
The ceremony is scheduled for 2:35 p.m. EST (1835 GMT) today, Jan. 12, and will be webcast live on NASA TV, NASA+ and the space agnecy’s streaming service and social media platforms.
Fincke and Crew-11 commander Zena Cardman of NASA, Japan’s Kimiya Yui and Russia’s Oleg Platonov will undock their SpaceX Dragon capsule from the ISS on Wednesday, Jan. 14 and return to earth early Jan. 15 due to a medical issue with one of the astronauts that occurred on Jan. 7. It is the first-ever medical evacuation of astronauts from the ISS.
The four Crew-11 astronauts will leave behind Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, his fellow cosmonaut Sergei Mikaev and NASA astronaut Chris Williams, who will remain aboard the ISS to complete the remained of a six-month mission that began in late November.
Tariq Malik
SpaceX details 11-hour return to Earth for Crew-11 astronauts
“After performing a series of departure burns to move away from the space station, Dragon will conduct multiple orbit-lowering maneuvers, jettison the trunk, and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere for splashdown off the coast of California approximately 11 hours later on Thursday, January 15,” SpaceX wrote in an updated mission overview. Splashdown is currently scheduled for 3:40 a.m. EST (0740 GMT) off the southern coast of California.
New commander to take charge soon
Good morning, all. Today is Sunday, Jan. 11 and we are just about three days away from NASA’s planned medical evacation of four Crew-11 astronauts from the International Space Station on Jan. 14, and four days away from their splashdown on Jan. 15.
We begin today with news that NASA and its international partners have arranged for an accelerated change of command ceremony on the ISS. That ceremony, which was to occur many weeks from now, will now occur on Monday, Jan. 12, at 2:35 p.m. EST (1835 GMT). You’ll be able to watch it live on Space.com, courtesy of NASA. Joining Fincke on the trip to Earth will be Crew-11 commander Zena Cardman of NASA and mission specialists Kimiya Yui of Japan and Oleg Platonaov of Russia. NASA called for their early return after a medical issue arose with one of the four on Jan. 7.
So why does this command change involve the Crew-11 medical evacuation? It’s because the current commander of the International Space Station’s joint Expedition 74 mission is Crew-11 pilot Mike Fincke, a veteran ISS astronaut who will now return to Earth early.
Fincke will hand over control of the ISS to Russian cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, who arrived at the station in November with fellow cosmonaut Sergei Mikaev and NASA astronaut Chris Williams.
Tariq Malik
How to watch Crew-11’s medical evac from ISS
The landing livestreams will begin early Jan. 15 at 2:15 a.m. EST (0615 GMT), with splashdown set for 3:40 a.m. EST (0740 GMT).
This will be our last update of the day, barring any new update from NASA. We’ll be back on Sunday to more on the packing and other preparations of the crew ahead of their unplanned departure from the ISS.
Thanks for tuning in.
Tariq Malik
Japan’s Crew-11 astronaut takes photo farewell of ISS
Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui is saying some farewells to the Japan-built section of the International Space Station as he and his Crew-11 crewmates prepare for their medical evacuation from the orbiting lab on Jan. 14.
Yui shared a photo on Friday that he took from a window on the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo module, the largest science laboratory on the space station, showing the module’s airlock and experiment platform. The space station’s main truss and two giant solar arrays can be seen, as well as the blue arc of the Earth below.
“Today was a very busy day as well, so I was working quite late.,” Yui wrote. “I hadn’t taken the photos to introduce to everyone, so I just shot them from the window of ‘Kibo’ a little while ago. Since I’ll soon have to bid farewell to this view as well, I want to burn it firmly into my eyes, and even more so, into my heart.”
Yui is on his second trip to the ISS with the Crew-11 mission. He’s been taking spectacular photos of Earth and space from the station, as well as videos like the one here shared by Space.com writer Anthony Wood:
Astronaut on ISS captures spectacular orbital video of zodiacal light, auroras and the Pleiades
Yui will return to Earh on Jan. 15 in the wee hours of the morning with Crew-11 crewmates Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman (both of NASA) and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platanov, with their SpaceX Dragon capsule splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.
Tariq Malik
NASA Timeline revealed for Crew-11 medical evacuation
Wednesday, Jan. 14 – all times in EST
- 3 p.m. – Hatch closure coverage begins on NASA TV and streaming platforms
- 3:30 p.m. – SpaceX Dragon hatch and ISS hatch closed for undocking
- There will be a break here between hatch closure coverage and undocking views.
- 4:45 p.m. – Undocking coverage begins
- 5 p.m. – Undocking and initial ISS departure
- There will be a break here in coverage between undocking and landing.
Thursday, Jan. 15 – all times in EST
- 2:15 a.m – Landing coverage begins on NASA TV and streaming platforms
- 2:50 a.m. – Dragon Deorbit burn
- 3:40 a.m. – Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off California coast
- 5:45 a.m. – Post-landing return to Earth press conference
This current timeline could change as NASA and SpaceX monitor weather at the splashdown site.
“Mission managers continue monitoring conditions in the recovery area, as undocking of the SpaceX Dragon depends on spacecraft readiness, recovery team readiness, weather, sea states, and other factors,” NASA wrote in an update. “NASA and SpaceX will select a specific splashdown time and location closer to the Crew-11 spacecraft undocking.”
Tariq Malik
SpaceX prepares for Crew-11 medical evacuation
SpaceX says it’s Dragon spacecraft at the International Space Station is ready to return its four Crew-11 astronauts home in an unprecedented medical evacuation on Jan. 14 and 15.
“Dragon and Crew-11 are targeted t undock from the space station no earlier than Wednesday, January 14,” SpaceX wrote in a mission update on X late yesterday.
Dragon and Crew-11 are targeted to undock from the space station no earlier than Wednesday, January 14 https://t.co/L6ThXkTHbaJanuary 10, 2026
The SpaceX statement came on the heels of NASA’s announcement that the Crew-11 astronauts were scheduled to undock from the space station on Jan. 14 and splashdown off the coast of California early on Jan. 15.
Splashdown is now set for 3:40 a.m. EST (0740 GMT) on Thursday, Jan. 15, NASA officials said.
The Crew-11 Dragon spacecraft will return NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke to Earth alongside Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platanov.
NASA decided to evacuate the crew, which make up four of the seven astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station, on Jan. 8 after an apparently serious medical concern arose with one of the four Crew-11 astronauts. The astronaut is stable, but NASA officials opted for a “controlled medical evacuation” in order to provide astronaut better treatment on the ground, NASA chief Jared Isaacman has said.
Tariq Malik
NASA planning on Jan. 15 return of Crew-11 astronauts
NASA is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. EST (2200 GMT) on Jan. 14 for the early departure of the Crew-11 astronauts after an undisclosed medical incident aboard the International Space Station.
The crew will deorbit aboard Endeavour, with splashdown expected early Jan. 15, off the coast of California, “depending on weather and recovery conditions,” according to a post from the space station’s account on X.
.@NASA and @SpaceX target undocking Crew-11 from the International Space Station no earlier than 5pm ET on Jan. 14, with splashdown off California targeted for early Jan. 15 depending on weather and recovery conditions. https://t.co/Y89iIj3jEYJanuary 10, 2026
Josh Dinner
Crew-11 tests suits, begins packing for medical evac
The Dragon pressure suits are the same black and white SpaceX spacesuits worn by Crew-11 astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, Kimiya Yui and Oleg Platanov during their launch in August 2025. Cardman will command the Dragon flight home with Fincke as pilot. Kimuya and Platanov will serve as mission specialists.
The astronauts have also begun packing for their trip home.
“The foursome began collecting their personal items and packing them for stowage aboard the spacecraft,” NASA wrote in the update.
Cardman spent time today flushing water from and powerfing down two NASA spacesuits on the ISS. She and Fincke were supposed to use the suits during a spacewalk on Jan. 8 and another one next week. Both spacewalks werte canceled due to the medical issue with one of the Crew-11 astronauts.
Yui and Platanov spent time on final science experiments of their mission, including one by Platanov studying how the inner lining of blood vessels work to keep blood flowing in space, in order to avoid the formation of blood clots.
Tariq Malik
Astronaut medical issue not an injury, NASA says
You can read our look back at medical issues in space here by Josh Dinner.
The months-long missions on the ISS can have lasting effects on the human body, forcing astronauts to readapt to live on Earth when they return, including rebuilding the muscle mass and bone density lost in space. At least one astronaut suffered a blood clot in orbit due to deep vein thrombisis at the two-month mark of a planned six-month mission. Physicians on Earth were able to devise a treatment for the astronaut to implement in space to address the issue and complete the mission’s full duration.
Not NASA’s first medical issue in space
While NASA’s current astronaut medical issue on the International Space Station has led to the first-ever planned medical evacuation of a crew from the orbiting lab, it is far from the first time the space agency has had to deal with a medical concern in orbit.
Dr. James Polk, NASA’s chief medical officer, told reporters late Thursday that medical issues we find common on Earth – like a toothache or other mild malady – are the same sort of things that have historically occurred with astronauts. The specific nature of the current issue, and the astronaut who experienced it, are being withheld for privacy reasons, he added.
Still, there is a record of medical concerns on the ISS, including ones that led to delays for spacewalks or other tasks.
In August 2020, NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and his crewmate Akhiko Hoshide had their planned spacewalk called off days before the event due to a minor medical issue that remained undisclosed. And in 2008, European Space Agency astronaut Hans Schlegel was replaced on his ISS spacwalk by NASA astronaut Stanley Love due to a medical concern.
Here’s a look at those astronaut medical issues and others from the history of human spaceflight by our writer Josh Dinner.
Tariq Malik
Former astronauts weigh-in on ISS situation
Former Canadian Space Agency astronaut Chris Hadfield posted his thoughts regarding NASA’s recent decision to fly Crew-11 astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) back to Earth due to an ongoing medical issue.
“Big decision by NASA leadership, with multiple domino impacts on operations, but I’m glad to see, as always, crew health and safety come first,” Hadfield wrote on X.
Normally, NASA overlaps incoming and outgoing crews aboard the ISS, but with the possibility of evacuating Crew-11 before Crew-12’s arrival, Hadfield voiced confidence. “The Station will be more vulnerable until the replacement crew of 4 can launch, but we have deep experience running the place with just 3 astronauts for a while,” he wrote.
Former NASA astronaut Ed Lu also weighed in on X. “The afflicted space station astronaut … is almost certainly feeling they have let down the crew. We were trained to get the mission done. But I do trust NASA to do the right thing here.”
It’s still unclear when exactly Crew-11 will depart the station, or when and if NASA will determine an earlier launch date for Crew-12.
For the first time in the 25-year history of the International Space Station, we’ve had a serious enough medical emergency in space to bring a crew home early. Big decision by @nasa leadership, with multiple domino impacts on operations, but I’m glad to see, as always, crew… pic.twitter.com/p3ObJh497DJanuary 8, 2026
Josh Dinner
ISS astronaut evacuation won’t affect Artemis 2 moon launch
NASA’s plan to rturn the four Crew-11 astronauts home early from the International Space Station and accelerate the launch of their replacement team, Crew-12, from Florida should not impact the agency’s plans to also launch another crew of astronauts to the moon in February.
NASA chief Jared Isaacman said Thursday that NASA’s Artemis 2 mission, which will launch four astronauts around the moon, will remain on track to launch in early February. The mission will lift off from the Kennedy Space Center, where SpaceX will also launch the Crew-12 astronauts. The Crew-11 astronauts will also have to splashdown off the Florida coast before then.
“These would be totally separate campaigns at this point,” Isaacman said during a Jan. 8 press conference to provide an update on NASA’s decision to end Crew-11 early. “There’s no reason to believe at this point in time that there’d be any overlap that we have to deconflict for.”
You can read the full story here by Staff Writer Josh Dinner.
NASA prepares to return 4 astronauts home early
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced his decision to bring the Crew-11 astronauts home early on their SpaceX Dragon capsule on Thursday (Jan. 8). The agency is now drawing up plans to both undock the Crew-11 Dragon and splashdown off the Florida coast early, while also accelerating the planned launch of a replacement crew on the SpaceX Crew-12 mission.
The departure of the Crew-11 astronauts will leave NASA astronaut Chris Williams and two cosmonauts, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev, on their own on the ISS. Crew-11 launched to the ISS in August 2025, with Williams and crew launching on a Soyuz rocket in November.
Watch this space for more updates on this developing story.
Tariq Malik
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