Astronaut’s ‘serious medical condition’ forces Nasa to end space station mission early
NASA has decided to end the Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station early due to a serious but stable medical condition affecting one astronaut. This marks the first time in NASA’s over 65-year history that a mission returns prematurely for health reasons unrelated to injury or operations.
Crew-11, launched in August 2025 via SpaceX Crew Dragon, included astronauts like Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, with a planned six-month stay ending next month. The early return shortens their mission by about a month, with splashdown expected in coming days.
A medical concern emerged Wednesday, prompting NASA to cancel Thursday’s spacewalk for power system upgrades. Officials, including NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, confirmed during a Thursday briefing that the astronaut remains stable, prioritizing privacy over details.
Remaining ISS crew—NASA’s Christopher Williams and two Russian cosmonauts—will focus on maintenance, delaying experiments until the next crew arrives. The station requires a minimum crew for safe operation amid this rare event.
