SpaceX Crew-11's Medical Evacuation from ISS Scheduled for Jan. 14

The first medical evacuation in International Space Station history begins this week as four astronauts return to Earth a month early due to an undisclosed medical concern.

SpaceX Crew-11 will undock from the International Space Station on Wednesday (Jan. 14) at 5:05 p.m. EST (2205 GMT). Hatches between the Crew Dragon capsule Endeavour and the ISS will close at 3:30 p.m. EST (1930 GMT) if nominal. The scheduled splashdown in the Pacific Ocean is set for Thursday (Jan. 15) at 3:41 a.m. EST (0841 GMT).

NASA's January 9 statement emphasized that mission managers continue monitoring conditions in the recovery area, noting undocking depends on spacecraft readiness, recovery team readiness, weather, sea states, and other factors.

Coverage of the event will be available via NASA+, YouTube, and SpaceX's website/X account.

"Mission managers continue monitoring conditions in the recovery area, as undocking depends on spacecraft readiness, recovery team readiness, weather, sea states and other factors."

NASA has not disclosed the affected individual or the specific medical condition prompting the evacuation. The schedule remains conditional on environmental and technical factors, with no prior medical evacuations recorded in ISS history.