Cyprus Times

Expedited Crew Return from Space Station Due to Astronaut's Health Issue

Published January 10, 2026, 09:09
Expedited Crew Return from Space Station Due to Astronaut's Health Issue

A crew from the International Space Station (ISS) is set to return to Earth ahead of schedule due to a health issue affecting one of the astronauts. NASA and SpaceX are planning the return of the Crew-11 mission, which includes American astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, “no earlier than 5:00 PM Thursday.” This early return is unusual, as astronauts typically spend 6-8 months on the ISS. NASA announced on Thursday that it was considering the return due to the health problem, which has been described as unprecedented in the history of the ISS. The crew has been on the ISS since August, and their original return was scheduled for February.