NASA and SpaceX Prepare for Historic Early Return of Crew-11 from ISS
NASA and SpaceX are making urgent preparations to bring the Crew-11 mission back to Earth ahead of schedule. This marks the first ever early evacuation from the International Space Station. The accelerated return stems from an undisclosed medical issue affecting one of the astronauts currently aboard the orbital laboratory.
Medical Emergency Forces Schedule Change
NASA announced on January 8, 2026 that Crew-11 would return early. Mission teams continue to assess a medical situation involving one crew member. NASA confirmed the astronaut remains in stable condition. However, the agency cannot share further details due to strict medical privacy protocols.
The medical urgency has activated NASA's emergency response procedures. This accelerated return demonstrates how space agencies handle health crises in orbit while protecting crew privacy.
Crew-11 Return Timeline and Details
The four-person crew includes NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. They are scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast.
Here is the complete return schedule:
- Hatch Closing: Wednesday, January 14 at 3:30 PM EST (2:00 AM IST on January 15)
- Undocking from ISS: Wednesday, January 14 at 5:05 PM EST (3:35 AM IST on January 15)
- Deorbit Burn: Thursday, January 15 at 2:51 AM EST (1:21 PM IST)
- Splashdown: Thursday, January 15 at 3:41 AM EST (2:11 PM IST)
All times remain subject to favorable weather conditions and mission readiness. Officials are closely monitoring sea conditions in the recovery zone. The final decision on exact splashdown timing and location will come closer to undocking.
How to Watch the Live Coverage
NASA will provide comprehensive live coverage of this historic return mission across multiple platforms. Space enthusiasts can tune in through NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency's official YouTube channel.
Broadcast schedule in Eastern Time:
- Hatch closure coverage begins at 3:00 PM EST on Wednesday, January 14
- Undocking coverage starts at 4:45 PM EST on Wednesday
- Live undocking occurs at 5:05 PM EST on Wednesday
- Return coverage begins at 2:15 AM EST on Thursday, January 15
- Live splashdown happens at 3:41 AM EST on Thursday
- Post-splashdown coverage continues at 5:45 AM EST on Thursday
Audio-only communications will remain available between Crew-11, the ISS, and flight controllers after undocking. Viewers should note that all times may change based on real-time mission operations.
Command Transfer Before Departure
Before the accelerated return, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke formally handed over command of Expedition 74 aboard the ISS. Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov assumed leadership of the station. This change of command ceremony followed standard procedures despite the unusual circumstances.
The Crew-11 mission represents international cooperation in space exploration. The team includes members from NASA, JAXA, and Roscosmos working together on the orbiting laboratory. Their early return highlights the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and the importance of robust medical protocols.
Space agencies continue to demonstrate their ability to respond quickly to emergencies while maintaining crew safety as their highest priority. This incident will likely inform future medical protocols for space station operations.
