4 astronauts to depart ISS early, leaving 3 crewmates aboard

Four Crew-11 astronauts are returning early from the International Space Station because of a reported medical concern, and NASA says the affected astronaut is stable; three crewmembers will remain aboard while a replacement crew launch is being expedited.

Four Crew-11 astronauts are returning to Earth earlier than planned after NASA announced a medical concern involving a member of the mission. The agency said the affected astronaut is stable and that the decision to return the crew was made to allow full medical evaluation on the ground. Their departure will temporarily reduce the station’s on-orbit crew to three people. NASA is working to advance the launch of a replacement crew originally scheduled for mid-February. Known details: - NASA moved the Crew-11 team to return early due to a reported medical concern and said the affected astronaut is in stable condition. - The four returning astronauts closed the hatch and are set to undock; splashdown is scheduled in the Pacific Ocean in the early hours following undocking. - Three crewmembers will remain on the station: Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev and NASA astronaut Chris Williams. - A planned spacewalk was canceled and NASA said it is expediting the Crew-12 launch; officials noted the delayed exterior work is not expected to create an immediate power shortfall. Summary: The immediate impact is that the International Space Station will operate with a reduced crew of three, and some tasks such as the canceled spacewalk will be deferred. Planned actions include the Crew-11 splashdown as scheduled and efforts by NASA to launch a replacement crew sooner than originally planned.