Astronauts Return to Earth in First ISS Medical Evacuation
NASA chief Jared Isaacman on Thursday said the experience of the returned Crew-11 will be used to prepare for future human space flight—including to the moon
One of the most notable chapters in the history of NASA is coming to something like a close: after calling for an unprecedented medical evacuation of four astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS), these space farers are safely home. The episode has left myriad unanswered questions about what exactly happened to prompt the stunning decision to end their mission early—a first in the history of the ISS.
When asked at a press conference Thursday if NASA planned to release further information about the medical situation that prompted the evacuation, agency chief Jared Isaacman said NASA is “very committed to being transparent.”
“There are some medical privacy considerations here. That said, to the extent that we are in a position to share more information publicly and have the necessary consent, we would do so,” he said.
On supporting science journalism
If you’re enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
“Obviously, we took this action because it was a serious medical issue,” Isaacman said. “The astronaut in question is fine, right now, in good spirits and going through the proper medical check.”
Crew-11 splashed down in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule off the coast of California at approximately 3:41 a.m. EST. The evacuating Crew-11 includes NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Japanese space agency astronaut Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. NASA has not identified which of these astronauts experienced the medical issue. “The crew member of concern is doing fine. We will share updates on their health as soon as it is appropriate to do so,” Isaacman said on Thursday.
The crew is undergoing medical evaluation on a receiver ship and is headed to a hospital in San Diego for further investigation and care, Joel Montalbano, the deputy associate administrator of NASA’s Space Operations Missions Directorate, said at the same conference.
Whatever happened to Crew-11 could influence how the agency prepares for future human spaceflight missions, including the upcoming Artemis II moon flyby. NASA will conduct a full debrief and review of the Crew-11 mission, Isaacman said.
“When we go through the debrief on this, we’re going to learn a lot about things we got right and did it very well, and make sure we apply that in other applications going forward,” Isaacman said.
The ISS is equipped with an array of medical equipment, drugs and diagnostic tools—all of which the station’s crew know how to use. That means most minor ailments can be dealt with on board: wounds can be sutured, blood taken and an ultrasound done. But NASA evidently decided whatever occurred was serious enough that the ISS was not the place to keep the ailing astronaut. The agency plans for these contingencies on every mission, Isaacman said.
“There are early return options on Artemis II. There are options to bring astronauts back from the space station in hours, not days. So, I think that the fact that we did take some extra time here does speak to the stability of the situation,” he said.
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can’t-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world’s best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.
