Space & Satellites
NASA and SpaceX Schedule Early Return of Crew-11 from ISS
NASA and SpaceX target January 14, 2026, for Crew-11’s early return from the ISS due to a medical concern, marking the first medical evacuation in ISS history.
This article is based on an official press release.
NASA and SpaceX have officially set a target date for the return of the Crew-11 mission, marking a significant and historic moment for operations aboard the International Space Station (ISS). According to the agency, the four-person crew is scheduled to undock no earlier than 5 p.m. EST on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, pending favorable weather conditions.
The early return is necessitated by a medical concern involving one of the crew members. While NASA has confirmed the individual is in stable condition, the agency has opted to bring the crew home approximately one month ahead of their original schedule. This event marks the first time in the 25-year history of the ISS that a mission has been cut short specifically to facilitate a medical evacuation.
The SpaceX Dragon capsule Endeavour is currently docked at the ISS, awaiting departure. If the schedule holds, the timeline for the return operation is as follows:
The crew launched on August 1, 2025, and upon splashdown, they will have spent approximately 167 days in orbit. The decision to return early truncates a mission originally slated to conclude in February or March.
NASA officials emphasized that the schedule remains “pending weather conditions.” Strict safety criteria govern the splashdown of the Dragon capsule. Recovery teams require wind speeds to be less than 10 mph (approximately 8.7 knots) and specific wave height limits to ensure the structural integrity of the heat shield and the safety of the recovery personnel. Additionally, the recovery zone must be free of rain, lightning, or thunderstorms to allow for safe helicopter operations.
The returning Crew-11 team consists of four astronauts representing three international space agencies:
NASA has maintained strict confidentiality regarding the specific medical issue, citing privacy policies aligned with HIPAA principles. However, the agency has been clear that this is a “precautionary” measure rather than an immediate emergency evacuation. The affected crew member is stable, but flight surgeons determined that returning to Earth for advanced medical care was the prudent course of action.
“NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. EST, Wednesday, Jan. 14, for the undocking… pending weather conditions.”
, NASA Official Statement
Prior to this development, the crew had been preparing for a spacewalk scheduled for January 8 to install solar array hardware. That operation was cancelled on January 7 as the medical concern emerged. The departure of Crew-11 will leave the ISS with a significantly reduced staff until the arrival of Crew-12, which is not scheduled until mid-February. Following the undocking, only three crew members will remain on board:
With the station operating on a skeleton crew, U.S.-led spacewalks are effectively suspended, as these operations typically require more support personnel than will be available. The remaining trio is expected to prioritize essential station maintenance over new scientific experiments during this interim period.
While the medical evacuation presents a logistical challenge, it also serves as a critical validation of NASA’s contingency protocols. As the agency prepares for the Artemis missions to the Moon and future expeditions to Mars, the ability to execute a rapid, unplanned return is a vital capability.
This event acts as a real-world “stress test” for deep-space exploration medical protocols. Unlike the ISS, where a return to Earth can be executed in under 24 hours, a mission to Mars would not offer such an option. Data gathered from this evacuation will likely influence the design of future medical kits and telemedicine procedures for missions where immediate return is impossible.
NASA and SpaceX Target Jan. 14 for Historic Crew-11 Medical Return
Mission Timeline and Logistics
Weather Constraints
Medical Context and Crew Details
Impact on Station Operations
AirPro News Analysis
Sources
Photo Credit: NASA