NASA has made the unprecedented decision to shorten the Crew-11 mission due to a health issue affecting one of the astronauts. The space agency is now looking at a return date of January 14, with the final schedule dependent on weather conditions.
This adjustment means the Crew-11 team, which launched to the International Space Station on August 1, was originally expected to return around February 20. The agency has also postponed a spacewalk planned for January 8, linked to the same medical concern.
According to James “JD” Polk, NASA's chief health and medical officer, the astronaut in question is stable, and the situation does not require an emergency evacuation. While the ISS is well-equipped with medical facilities, it lacks the capability for comprehensive diagnostics, prompting the agency to prioritize caution.
Following the departure of Crew-11, just three individuals will remain on the station, consisting of two cosmonauts and one astronaut responsible for ongoing experiments. NASA is contemplating an earlier launch for Crew-12, initially scheduled for mid-February, to ensure adequate crew support.