ISS astronaut medical evacuation latest news: Crew-11 pilot to hand control of station over today
NASA and SpaceX are preparing for a controlled medical evacuation of four Crew-11 astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS). The evacuation is due to a medical issue that occurred on January 7, 2026, and is the first-ever medical evacuation of astronauts from the ISS.
The crew, including NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, Kimiya Yui, and Oleg Platonov, will undock their SpaceX Dragon capsule from the ISS on January 14, 2026, and return to Earth on January 15, 2026. The undocking is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST on January 14, followed by the landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California at 3:40 a.m. EST on January 15.
The evacuation will leave Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikaev, and Chris Williams aboard the ISS to complete the remaining six-month mission. This is a significant development as it marks the first time astronauts have been evacuated from the ISS due to a medical issue.
The medical issue is being kept confidential for privacy reasons, but it has led to a change in command on the ISS. Mike Fincke, the current commander, will hand over control to Sergey Kud-Sverchkov during a change-of-command ceremony on January 12, 2026, at 2:35 p.m. EST. This ceremony will be webcast live on NASA TV, NASA+, and the space agency's streaming service and social media platforms.
The evacuation will also impact the crew's activities, including the cancellation of spacewalks planned for January 8 and 15, 2026. The astronauts have begun packing for their return journey and are conducting final science experiments. The Dragon pressure suits, worn during the launch in August 2025, will be used for the evacuation.
Despite the medical issue, NASA's Artemis 2 mission, which aims to launch astronauts around the moon in February 2026, is expected to proceed as planned. The mission will launch from the Kennedy Space Center, where SpaceX will also launch the Crew-12 astronauts. The Crew-11 astronauts will splashdown off the Florida coast before the Artemis 2 mission.
This evacuation highlights the challenges and risks associated with space exploration, as even minor medical issues can lead to significant changes in mission plans. It also demonstrates NASA's commitment to prioritizing crew health and safety, as stated by former Canadian Space Agency astronaut Chris Hadfield.
