'Medical Situation' Will Bring ISS Astronauts Home Early, After All
A medical situation prompts NASA to bring ISS astronauts home early—learn what’s behind the unprecedented decision
Matilda
'Medical Situation' Will Bring ISS Astronauts Home Early, After All
NASA Makes Unprecedented Call: Astronauts to Return Early from ISS In a rare and unexpected move, NASA has decided to bring several International Space Station (ISS) astronauts home ahead of schedule due to an undisclosed “medical situation.” While officials stress this is not an emergency, the decision marks a significant deviation from normal operations—and raises questions about crew health protocols in orbit. The affected astronauts will now depart the ISS at least five weeks early, leaving just three crew members aboard until replacements arrive in February 2026. Credit: SpaceX What Triggered the Early Return? The chain of events began when a NASA astronaut requested a private medical consultation with mission control—a standard but confidential procedure reserved for sensitive health matters. Following that call, NASA abruptly canceled a planned spacewalk scheduled for Wednesday, January 7. Though details remain tightly guarded under privacy laws, agency leaders confirmed Thursday t…
