Nasa considering early return of crew from ISS due to medical reasons

NASA is mulling the possibility of cutting short its crew's stay on the International Space Station (ISS) amid concerns over a medical issue affecting one of the astronauts. The decision comes as the agency has cancelled plans for a scheduled spacewalk, which was set to take place on Thursday.

According to a NASA spokesperson, the astronaut in question is currently in stable condition and is being closely monitored. However, the agency has deemed it necessary to reassess its mission timeline, with one option under consideration being an early return of the crew.

The ISS typically accommodates crews for six- to eight-month stints, although medical equipment and certain medications are available for emergency situations. The four-person Crew-11 is set to complete its stint on the ISS around May this year.

Commander Mike Fincke and flight engineer Zena Cardman were scheduled to undertake a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk on Thursday as part of the crew's activities. Spacewalks require months of training and are high-risk missions that necessitate precise coordination while attached to the ISS.

This latest development has raised questions about the risks involved in prolonged space travel and the agency's contingency planning for such situations. It also comes amid a backdrop of previous incidents, including NASA cancelling a spacewalk last year due to "spacesuit discomfort" and US astronaut Mark Vande Hei halting his own spacewalk in 2021 following a pinched nerve.

I'm not buying it that they're gonna just cut the crew's stay short like that without knowing what's really going on. One medical issue, maybe, but you can't just abandon an entire six-month mission because of a single astronaut's health scare. It sounds like they're playing it way too safe. What if this is some sort of experiment to see how long humans can survive in space without proper equipment? I'm not convinced. And what about the crew? They've been training for months, and now they're gonna just pack their bags and head home early? It doesn't seem right.

I cant believe its come to this ... One day you're floating around the ISS, doing spacewalks and living your best life, and next thing you know, youre worried about cutting it short because some astronaut is feeling a little under the weather . I mean, I'm glad everyone's safe and all that, but what's going on with these space programs? They're supposed to be pushing boundaries and exploring new frontiers, not canceling plans due to a medical issue . And don't even get me started on how this affects the Crew-11... I feel like we're taking two steps forward and one step back . What's next? Are they gonna start having to bring an EpiPen to space or something ?

OMG u guys! I'm so worried about those astronauts !!! They're literally living in space for months at a time and we still don't know how their bodies react to it ?! Like, what even is the timeline for their medical checks? Shouldn't they be more prepared just in case? And now there's talk of cutting short their stay early? That's so stressful for them! I hope everything turns out okay and that astronaut is feeling better soon . This whole thing is making me think we need to rethink space travel protocols ASAP . What do u guys think?

This just shows you how delicate things can get when it comes to space travel... I mean, we're basically sending people to live in tiny metal bubbles for months on end with limited access to medical help. It's like, what if they have a heart attack or something? Do they really want to risk the rest of their lives just so they can get some more research done? And what about the crew members who are already up there and don't know if they'll be able to get back down safely? It's all well and good for science, but at what cost?

I don't think we should jump to conclusions about the risks of prolonged space travel just yet . I mean, sure, there have been some issues in the past, but that's kinda like saying all cars are bad because one guy had an accident . It's a small risk vs huge reward situation, and NASA is trying to make it work. The fact that they're monitoring the astronaut closely and considering an early return shows they're being responsible . Let's not forget, space travel is still super rare and most astronauts come back just fine .

so this is kinda crazy news... one of the astronauts on the ISS is having some medical issues and now NASA's thinking of cutting their stay short? I'm not saying it's good or bad, but you have to admire how flexible they are, right? like, who needs a six-month crew stint when you can get 'em out sooner if needed? It's all about prioritizing safety, I guess. And yeah, spacewalks are super high-risk, so maybe this is just a precautionary measure? what do you think tho? should NASA be more prepared for emergencies or is it better to err on the side of caution?

omg its crazy thinkin astronauts can just get pinched nerves in space i mean we know they gotta deal with some weird stuff up there, but thats like what happens when u sit on the same chair for 8 months straight . anyway gotta be worried about this astronaut tho, hope they can figure out whats goin on and get them back to Earth safe & sound . spacewalks are already crazy enough without havin to worry about crew members gettin hurt . NASA needs to have a solid plan in place for these types of situations, dont wanna be in a situation where u gotta cut short an entire mission . wish 'em the best & keep fingers crossed for a smooth resolution

I'm getting the vapors just thinking about all these space travelers out there! Can you believe one of our astronauts is dealing with some medical drama up there? I mean, I know we've had those issues before, but this one's got everyone talking. Cutting short their stay on the ISS? That's like skipping dinner at your favorite restaurant... it's just not normal! I remember when I was a kid, space travel was still in those new-fangled sci-fi movies, and now they're out there living it up (and sometimes, dealing with issues) . We've gotta make sure our astronauts are taken care of, though - they're the real MVPs! The longer they're up there, the more risk we're talking about. I hope everything shakes out okay for Commander Fincke and Zena Cardman... they need to get back on solid ground ASAP

Ugh this is so stressful for the astronauts & their families . One wrong move can be super serious, like with that pinched nerve last year ... it's a huge responsibility being an astronaut . I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes well & the crew member recovers quickly . It's actually kinda scary when you think about all the things that could go wrong in space... I mean, you're already so far away from home .

I'm low-key suspicious about this whole thing... Like, what's really going on with that astronaut? Is it just a coincidence that they're having some medical issues right when NASA is considering cutting short the ISS crew's stay? And why are they canceling plans for a spacewalk, which is like, super crucial for their training and all that jazz? It almost feels like NASA is trying to cover something up... But at the same time, I don't want to jump to conclusions or anything . Maybe it's just a precautionary measure? But what if it's not?

I remember when space travel was still super rare and we thought it was the ultimate adventure ... now it's become more routine, but with increased risks? I'm not surprised to hear that one of the astronauts is dealing with a medical issue - I mean, have you seen those cramped spacesuits they wear? It's like wearing a oven for 6 hours straight .

Cutting short their stay on the ISS might be a good call, though. I've been following space news since the '90s and it always seems like something goes wrong just when things are going smooth . At least NASA is being cautious - they should be, considering what we're talking about here.

I do wonder if this means other space agencies will start rethinking their own crew stays... I mean, who wants to be stuck in a metal can with limited medical supplies for months on end? Not me, that's for sure. Anyway, fingers crossed the astronaut recovers and they get to finish their mission without any major issues .

so this is what happens when you put humans in space ... it's not all good vibes and superhero moments. one of the astronauts on the ISS has a medical issue and now we're talking about cutting their stay short? that's not exactly reassuring when you think about the risks involved with prolonged space travel ... and what if they can't even get an emergency fix in time? meanwhile, the spacewalk that was supposed to happen is cancelled because of it ... it just goes to show that even in space, things don't always go according to plan

NASA is being super cautious about the crew's stay on the ISS . One of the astronauts has a medical issue and they're worried it might affect the whole mission . That's why they're considering cutting the stay short . I mean, 6-8 months in space is already crazy long ! They need to think about the risks and have a plan B . Maybe an early return would be a good idea ? It's always better to be safe than sorry . And what's up with all these spacewalks ? They're like, super high-risk ! Can't they just stick to the regular routine ?

So this is getting serious... They're considering cutting the crew's stay on the ISS early due to some medical issue, but thankfully it's not looking too bad for the affected astronaut . I mean, we've had some close calls before with spacewalks going wrong and astronauts having to abort mid-mission or take an unscheduled break.

The thing is, if they do decide to cut the stay early, what's next? Are they gonna start scaling back on their mission duration altogether? And have they thought about how this might impact future missions and the overall timeline for getting humans back to Mars?

I also wonder, have we learned anything from these incidents that we haven't already? Like, spacewalks are inherently high-risk, but do we need to be more prepared or flexible with our contingency plans?

OMG , like I was watching an old vid of Chris Hadfield doing that awesome David Bowie cover on the ISS, and now this... NASA's gotta prioritize the astronaut's health over the spacewalk, you feel? I mean, we've got these fancy space meds and medical gear for emergency situations, but what if it's a rare thing like a pinched nerve or something? Anyway, cutting short the crew's stay early is def a good idea, considering how grueling those spacewalks can be. Hope Commander Fincke and Zena Cardman are okay tho!