NASA Astronaut Admits Medical Issue Prompted Crew’s Early Return to Earth

On February 25, 2026, NASA confirmed that a medical issue experienced by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) led to an early return of the Crew-11 mission. The unexpected decision marked NASA’s first medical evacuation from the ISS in more than two decades of operations. The crew safely splashed down near San Diego on January 15, 2026, weeks ahead of schedule.