NASA Mission Cut Short as Crew Returns to Earth Amid Medical Issue
Four astronauts, part of the Crew 11 mission, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday morning after being forced to cut their space station stay short due to a medical issue. The crew, which had been orbiting the Earth for 167 days, returned safely to shore with the help of SpaceX recovery crews.
Commander Zena Cardman, co-pilot Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov were expected to complete a planned 202-day mission before being ordered back to Earth by NASA due to a medical concern. The crew's spacecraft, Crew Dragon, undocked from the International Space Station on Tuesday afternoon.
"We're just glad that everyone is safe," Fincke said in a statement after landing. "It was the right call."
Cardman echoed Fincke's sentiments, saying "All crew members are currently undergoing the routine post-splashdown medical evaluation." She also thanked NASA and SpaceX for their support throughout the mission.
The crew was accompanied on their journey home by four large parachutes that slowed their descent into the ocean. Recovery crews from SpaceX were waiting to assist them with a helicopter transfer to a hospital for further examination.
According to NASA, all four astronauts appeared healthy and in good spirits during a change of command ceremony before landing. "It's so good to be home," Cardman said, expressing gratitude to those who helped her crew return safely.
The sudden departure from the mission has left the space station temporarily unoccupied by a full crew. The Soyuz MS-28 crew, which was launched last November, will remain in orbit for now, while NASA and SpaceX prepare for the arrival of Crew 12 next month.
The Artemis 2 mission, scheduled to launch as early as February, marks the first time astronauts will be sent to the moon's vicinity in over 50 years. The high-profile mission has been months in the making, with thousands of people working behind the scenes to prepare for this historic event.
As for Crew 11, their return to Earth brings a sense of relief and closure after an extended period in space. The astronauts' safety is the top priority, and NASA's swift decision to cut the mission short highlights the organization's commitment to protecting its crew members.
The incident serves as a reminder of the risks involved in long-duration space missions and the importance of having robust medical resources available for emergencies.
Four astronauts, part of the Crew 11 mission, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday morning after being forced to cut their space station stay short due to a medical issue. The crew, which had been orbiting the Earth for 167 days, returned safely to shore with the help of SpaceX recovery crews.
Commander Zena Cardman, co-pilot Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov were expected to complete a planned 202-day mission before being ordered back to Earth by NASA due to a medical concern. The crew's spacecraft, Crew Dragon, undocked from the International Space Station on Tuesday afternoon.
"We're just glad that everyone is safe," Fincke said in a statement after landing. "It was the right call."
Cardman echoed Fincke's sentiments, saying "All crew members are currently undergoing the routine post-splashdown medical evaluation." She also thanked NASA and SpaceX for their support throughout the mission.
The crew was accompanied on their journey home by four large parachutes that slowed their descent into the ocean. Recovery crews from SpaceX were waiting to assist them with a helicopter transfer to a hospital for further examination.
According to NASA, all four astronauts appeared healthy and in good spirits during a change of command ceremony before landing. "It's so good to be home," Cardman said, expressing gratitude to those who helped her crew return safely.
The sudden departure from the mission has left the space station temporarily unoccupied by a full crew. The Soyuz MS-28 crew, which was launched last November, will remain in orbit for now, while NASA and SpaceX prepare for the arrival of Crew 12 next month.
The Artemis 2 mission, scheduled to launch as early as February, marks the first time astronauts will be sent to the moon's vicinity in over 50 years. The high-profile mission has been months in the making, with thousands of people working behind the scenes to prepare for this historic event.
As for Crew 11, their return to Earth brings a sense of relief and closure after an extended period in space. The astronauts' safety is the top priority, and NASA's swift decision to cut the mission short highlights the organization's commitment to protecting its crew members.
The incident serves as a reminder of the risks involved in long-duration space missions and the importance of having robust medical resources available for emergencies.
nasa did the right thing tho, safety first, all good 4 them 
but what's with the crew 12 mission? Feb launch?! thats like, ages away 
i guess we'll just have to keep it under wraps until then 
anyway, gotta give a shoutout 2 zena cardman & co, u guys rock 
! 167 days up there is crazy talk, even for us space nuts 
. You gotta feel for them, though - it's not exactly what they signed up for when they became astronauts 
. I mean, who needs that kind of stress in their life? 
Anyway, glad NASA was proactive and got them back to shore ASAP. Now we just wait for Artemis 2 and hope everything goes smoothly... fingers crossed 
I'm not surprised they had to cut that mission short. 167 days is like, forever! 
! Cutting their mission short was def the right call, especially when a medical issue cropped up 
. It's always better to prioritize safety over any space-related milestones 
. The fact that they're all healthy and in good spirits now is just amazing 
️! This incident is a major reminder of the risks involved in long-duration space missions, but it also shows us how awesome our space teams are when it comes to emergency response 
! #AstronautSafety #SpaceTeamsRRockin #NASAandSpaceXtogether
just read about the NASA Crew 11 astronauts returning early from their space station stay due to a medical issue 
it's actually kinda reassuring that they prioritized their health over staying on mission, despite all the hype around Artemis 2 
NASA did the right thing in cutting the mission short 
. 167 days is like, forever in space time 
. I wonder if they got to have any decent space food or was it just freeze-dried chicken nuggets all day? 
. Seriously though, NASA's got the crew's safety on lockdown, and that's what matters most 
. Now let's get ready for Artemis 2 and hope the astronauts don't have any moon-induced meltdowns 
. Like, can't they just have a decent healthcare system up there? 
. And what about all those people who were counting on them to get some actual work done on the space station? 
Now they're gonna be stuck there for another month while NASA and SpaceX deal with this mess 
. And let's not forget about the Artemis 2 mission, which is supposed to be historic... but now it's just gonna be a waiting game 
. I mean, I guess it's good that everyone is safe tho 
Guess we'll never know... 
so sad they had to cut their mission short, 167 days up in space is already super long... glad no one got hurt tho 
Thank goodness they got to splash down safely with SpaceX's help 
. The Soyuz crew will have to deal with being stuck up there for now though 
. Can't wait to see what happens next with Artemis 2 and those brave astronauts 
WHAT'S NEXT FOR CREW 12 AND THE ARTEMIS 2 MISSION? I'M READY FOR MORE EXCITING UPDATES!!! 
astronaut's space-traveling diet 
NASA's got their priorities straight, safety over science-y stuff 
can't imagine being stuck in space with a serious problem tho 
glad they got the support from NASA and SpaceX, thousands of people worked hard to make this mission happen and it's all worth it when it comes down to astronaut safety 
safety first, I get it 
. now let's hope they all recover well from their ordeal 
: 
( source: NASA's own data 
with that Artemis 2 mission launching as early as Feb