The space agency has chosen to return the Crew-11 team to Earth about four weeks sooner than anticipated, prompted by a health-related matter involving one member. This marks the initial instance where NASA has abbreviated a flight for such a reason, though details about the individual's identity or the condition's nature and intensity remain undisclosed. Officials aim for a landing no sooner than January 14, subject to meteorological conditions. Should the adjusted itinerary proceed, the group is set to touch down near California's shoreline around 3:40 a.m. on January 15.
Earlier, NASA delayed an extravehicular activity at the International Space Station planned for January 8, attributed to a health matter with a team member that surfaced the prior day. According to NASA's top medical official, James 'JD' Polk, the impacted individual remains completely stable, and the situation does not necessitate an urgent withdrawal. He noted that the station is equipped with extensive medical equipment, yet it lacks the resources for a thorough evaluation to establish a precise assessment. Lacking a clear medical determination, the organization cannot assess potential adverse impacts from the orbital outpost's conditions, leading to a conservative approach.
The Crew-11 group launched toward the station on August 1 and had been slated for reentry near February 20. Upon their departure, just three individuals will stay behind: a pair of cosmonauts and a single astronaut tasked with overseeing ongoing research at the facility. Their successors, the Crew-12 contingent, were originally due to arrive at the station in mid-February, but NASA is now evaluating an accelerated departure for them.