NASA Announces Early Departure of Astronauts from ISS Due to 'Serious' Medical Issue
Astronauts on board the International Space Station are set to leave their orbital home no earlier than January 14th, with the goal of landing near California by Thursday morning. The decision comes after an astronaut fell ill with a "serious" but undisclosed medical condition.
The move is unprecedented in the space station's 25-year history and has been prompted by discussions between NASA administrators and chief health officer Dr James Polk. According to Jared Isaacman, NASA administrator, the decision was made to prioritize the astronauts' well-being due to the severity of their illness.
"This was a serious medical condition," said Isaacman. "That is why we're pursuing this path."
While the astronaut remains stable, the situation has left some lingering risks and questions about the diagnosis on board. This has led NASA to take precautions, but it also means that there is still uncertainty surrounding the extent of the issue.
Crew-11, which includes US commander Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui, and Oleg Platonov, had been set to stay for an extended period but will now be departing earlier than planned. Meanwhile, three other crew members, Chris Williams, Sergei Mikayev, and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, will remain on the station.
The space station is expected to undergo a medical evacuation for the first time in its history due to the severity of the situation. NASA plans to bring the aging space station out of orbit by late 2030 or early 2031 as part of its ongoing efforts to maintain its operational costs.
Astronauts on board the International Space Station are set to leave their orbital home no earlier than January 14th, with the goal of landing near California by Thursday morning. The decision comes after an astronaut fell ill with a "serious" but undisclosed medical condition.
The move is unprecedented in the space station's 25-year history and has been prompted by discussions between NASA administrators and chief health officer Dr James Polk. According to Jared Isaacman, NASA administrator, the decision was made to prioritize the astronauts' well-being due to the severity of their illness.
"This was a serious medical condition," said Isaacman. "That is why we're pursuing this path."
While the astronaut remains stable, the situation has left some lingering risks and questions about the diagnosis on board. This has led NASA to take precautions, but it also means that there is still uncertainty surrounding the extent of the issue.
Crew-11, which includes US commander Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui, and Oleg Platonov, had been set to stay for an extended period but will now be departing earlier than planned. Meanwhile, three other crew members, Chris Williams, Sergei Mikayev, and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, will remain on the station.
The space station is expected to undergo a medical evacuation for the first time in its history due to the severity of the situation. NASA plans to bring the aging space station out of orbit by late 2030 or early 2031 as part of its ongoing efforts to maintain its operational costs.
! I mean, a "serious" medical issue on board the ISS? That's not something you hear every day 
. I hope the astronauts are okay and getting the best care possible 
. The fact that they're leaving earlier than planned kinda makes me wonder what's going on 
... is it related to the space travel itself or just a personal health issue? 
Either way, my thoughts are with them and their families 
. This is definitely making me think about space travel safety and how we can support our astronauts 
. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly and they make it back safely to Earth 
. I'd rather see them be transparent about what's going on instead of making a big deal about some minor medical issue.
Like, could it be a test for some new meds or technology? 
We're always being told how advanced space travel is and now suddenly there's an "unprecedented" situation on board... smells like fish to me 
.
u guys know how sensitive astronauts' immune systems are, like, they're literally walking around in space with a virus lol. and what about the other crew members? did they get vaccinated before going on this mission?! 
I'm shocked that a medical issue is more important than finishing their mission on time. It's interesting how NASA has to consider the crew's health over the entire program's goals. Hopefully, the astronaut recovers soon and it's not something that could have been prevented with better planning or precautions.
?! I mean, I'm just trying to study for my exams and deal with my own stress about the upcoming school project 
, let alone worrying about astronauts who are literally floating in space 
! NASA's decision to prioritize their well-being is totally understandable tho 
. And wow, this is like something out of a movie - a medical evacuation from space station? 
That's crazy talk! On the bright side, I guess it'll be interesting to see how they manage to get them back safely and on Earth by Thursday morning 
.
... but at the same time, all these questions about what's wrong with him are making me feel kinda uneasy 
... has anyone even been told how long he'll be out of commission tho? 
... i mean, what's the worst that could happen on iss? 
still plenty of medical pros on the ground who can help if needed 
... and btw, what's up with all these russian crew members? why not prioritize their health too? 
Can't believe NASA is being super cautious 
Still, at least it's safe for them 
️ Hope they get better ASAP 
Crew-11 is gonna be like "What just happened?" 
And the station is getting old 
Need to retire it soon 
Fingers crossed for a smooth landing near Cali 
. NASA is being super responsible by prioritizing their well-being, but at the same time, I get that there are still some unknowns 
Fingers crossed for a smooth evacuation process 
. This is so weird that they're leaving the ISS because of a medical issue... I mean, we have hospitals on Earth with better equipment and care, right? Not saying it's easy for them or anything, but seriously, why take risks like this? And what's with all these precautions? Are they really worried about something bad happening? 
? i mean think about it, if u had a choice between having all the amenities of home or being able to explore the galaxy 24/7, which one would u pick? anyway, back to this astronaut's situation... i wonder what kind of snacks they have on the iss 
. This is so not good for the crew, especially Zena Cardman being the US commander and all... need to keep everyone updated 
. Also, what's with the space station aging thing? like NASA plans to retire it by 2030... that's wild! 
think about all the epic missions they'll miss out on 
Anyways, I'm a bit worried about their safety and the risks involved with medical evacuations... like, is it possible for them to get worse during transport or something? 
. Good on NASA for being cautious & transparent about the situation