NASA is mulling an unprecedented early departure of its crew from the International Space Station (ISS) due to a medical emergency involving one of the astronauts. The decision comes after cancelling a planned spacewalk that was set to take place on Thursday, citing a need for caution.
According to NASA officials, the astronaut in question is currently stable and receiving treatment for their condition. However, the agency has deemed it safer to bring the crew back sooner rather than risk any further complications or potential health issues.
The ISS typically hosts crews who stay on board for six- to eight-month stints, with basic medical facilities and emergency medications available for minor incidents. But in this case, NASA is taking a more cautious approach, considering an earlier end to its Crew-11 mission, which had initially been scheduled to conclude around May this year.
The four-person crew includes US astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. The spacewalk that was cancelled was set to be a crucial part of their schedule, involving a 6.5-hour mission outside the station to install hardware.
NASA's reluctance to disclose details about medical issues affecting its astronauts is well-documented. Typically, these situations remain private and are not publicly acknowledged by the agency. However, in this instance, officials have chosen to err on the side of caution, opting for an earlier return instead of pushing through with a potentially risky spacewalk.
This decision marks a rare deviation from NASA's usual cautious approach when it comes to spacewalks. As past examples demonstrate – including 2021's cancellation due to a pinched nerve and 2024's swift call-off at the last minute over "spacesuit discomfort" – even minor medical issues can prove arduous for astronauts on long-duration missions like the ISS.
According to NASA officials, the astronaut in question is currently stable and receiving treatment for their condition. However, the agency has deemed it safer to bring the crew back sooner rather than risk any further complications or potential health issues.
The ISS typically hosts crews who stay on board for six- to eight-month stints, with basic medical facilities and emergency medications available for minor incidents. But in this case, NASA is taking a more cautious approach, considering an earlier end to its Crew-11 mission, which had initially been scheduled to conclude around May this year.
The four-person crew includes US astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. The spacewalk that was cancelled was set to be a crucial part of their schedule, involving a 6.5-hour mission outside the station to install hardware.
NASA's reluctance to disclose details about medical issues affecting its astronauts is well-documented. Typically, these situations remain private and are not publicly acknowledged by the agency. However, in this instance, officials have chosen to err on the side of caution, opting for an earlier return instead of pushing through with a potentially risky spacewalk.
This decision marks a rare deviation from NASA's usual cautious approach when it comes to spacewalks. As past examples demonstrate – including 2021's cancellation due to a pinched nerve and 2024's swift call-off at the last minute over "spacesuit discomfort" – even minor medical issues can prove arduous for astronauts on long-duration missions like the ISS.
. Like, we all know astronauts have to deal with some pretty crazy stuff in space, but this is taking it to a whole new level 
. I mean, I get it, safety first and all that, but don't they just get vaccinated for every bug on the planet before going up there? 
It's like they're saying "oh, we'll just quietly fix this and move on"... 
! Just saw this crazy news about NASA and their crew on the International Space Station. They're actually considering an early departure due to a medical emergency 
... I mean, who wouldn't want to get back home ASAP when something's not right? 
. It's not like we'd want any of our astronauts to risk their health or anything 
NASA is being super cautious with its astronauts... too cautious? 
[Astronauts in space getting a haircut](https://i.imgur.com/S4P6b1p.gif) 
with one of its astronauts having a medical emergency on board! The Crew-11 mission has already been put at risk due to cancelled spacewalks in the past, so I get why they're being extra careful 
. Hopefully, Zena, Mike, Kimiya, and Oleg are all okay and the crew can return safely soon 
if its a med emergency they gotta act fast! but at the same time, spacewalks are kinda big deal 
if this had gone down in may like planned, we would've had to wait another few months 