NASA Crew-11 splashes down in San Diego after historic medical evacuation from ISS
Crew-11’s stay at ISS was cut short due to a medical emergency
January 15, 2026
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Crew-11 astronauts have splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, marking the historic first-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station (ISS) in the space agency’s 25-year history.
Those who returned on Thursday, January 15, 2025, include Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui and NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke.
The picture shared by NASA shows the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft with parachutes deployed before splashdown off the coast of San Diego. They spalshdown occured around 3:41 a.m. ET after an 11-hour journey.
The mission controllers welcomed the astronauts back to Earth, saying: “On behalf of SpaceX and NASA, welcome home, Crew-11.”
The mission was originally scheduled to return in February; however, Crew-11’s stay at ISS was cut short due to a medical emergency.
NASA did not disclose the identity of the astronaut who suffered medical issues and has not shared any details of the medical incident.
The space agency’s administrator Jared Isaacman said that the decision to bring crew early was made out of abundant caution.
Before leaving the ISS, astronaut Mike Fincke shared an update on the health of the crew, stating they were stable, safe and well cared for.
