NASA to return SpaceX Crew-11 to Earth ahead of schedule

NASA announced an early return of SpaceX Crew-11 after a crew member required medical care; the capsule is scheduled to splash down off California on Jan. 15 at approximately 3:40 a.m. EST and the crew member is reported to be in stable condition.

NASA has announced that the SpaceX Crew-11 mission will return to Earth earlier than planned after one crew member required full medical services. The agency reported the affected crew member will remain unnamed for privacy and is in stable condition. The early return is scheduled as a Pacific Ocean splashdown off the coast of California on Jan. 15 at about 3:40 a.m. EST. Key details: - NASA cited a health-related issue for a Crew-11 member as the reason for the early return. - The returning Crew-11 roster includes NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. - NASA said the crew member has not been identified publicly and was reported to be in stable condition. - The splashdown is scheduled for Jan. 15 at approximately 3:40 a.m. EST off the coast of California, and NASA and SpaceX are monitoring weather at the recovery zones. - Expedition 74 will continue with three flight engineers aboard the station: NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikayev; Mike Fincke is scheduled to hand command to Sergey Kud-Sverchkov before departure. Summary: The early return reduces the number of crew aboard the International Space Station temporarily and requires coordination among NASA, SpaceX and international partners. Agencies said they will review options for the next launch and provided a public schedule of coverage for the change of command and Crew-11 return; operational details and future launch timing are under review.