Astronauts return to Earth after first ever medical evacuation from space station

A SpaceX capsule named Endeavour, carrying a four-member International Space Station (ISS) crew home from orbit, splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean off California early today (15 January).

This marked the first time NASA cut short an ISS crew's mission due to a health emergency, bringing the astronauts back a few weeks ahead of schedule.

A joint NASA-SpaceX webcast presented live infrared video showing the deployment of two sets of parachutes from the nose of the free-falling capsule. The parachutes slowed the capsule's descent rate to about 15 miles per hour (25 kilometres per hour) before it gently hit the water.

Four parachutes slowed the capsule's re-entry through the Earth's atmosphere. Image: NASA/AFP

During a radio transmission to the SpaceX flight control centre near Los Angeles, Endeavour's commander, NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, said, "It's good to be home." Fellow US astronaut Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov joined her on the flight home.

Less than an hour after splashdown, the four astronauts were helped out of the capsule one by one. They were accompanied by the cheers and applause of SpaceX employees aboard a ship.

Why was the mission cut short?

The ISS crew made an early emergency return to Earth due to an undisclosed serious medical condition affecting one of the astronauts.

Last week, NASA announced that it had cancelled a spacewalk at the last minute due to health concerns involving one of the crew members. On 8 January, the agency announced the decision to bring all four Crew-11 members home early.

Before their return to Earth, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, NASA astronaut Zena Cardman and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui posed for a crew portrait (clockwise from bottom left ) Image: NASA/AP Photo/picture alliance

According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, one of the astronauts was facing a "serious medical condition" that required immediate medical attention on the ground.

NASA officials have not disclosed which crew member was affected or described the nature of the issue, citing privacy concerns. Later, NASA Chief Health and Medical Officer James Polk said the medical emergency was not caused by an injury that occurred during operations.

Having arrived together in August from Florida, the astronauts spent 167 days aboard the International Space Station.