Crew-11 undocking targeted for Jan. 14 by NASA and SpaceX

NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. EST on Jan. 14 for the Crew‑11 Dragon undocking, with an approximate splashdown off the coast of California around 3:40 a.m. EST on Jan. 15; the earlier return follows a reported medical concern involving a crew member who is described as stable.

NASA and SpaceX announced a revised return plan for the Crew‑11 mission, targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Jan. 14 for undocking from the International Space Station. The agency said the decision to return earlier than originally planned followed a reported medical concern involving a crew member; that crew member is described as stable and medical details are being kept private. Mission teams will confirm a specific splashdown time and location closer to undocking and are monitoring operational and environmental conditions. Key details: - Undocking is targeted no earlier than 5 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Jan. 14, pending conditions. - Planned splashdown off the coast of California is currently listed at approximately 3:40 a.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 15. - Crew members named to return are NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. - The mission timeline includes hatch closure coverage at 3 p.m. EST and hatch closing at 3:30 p.m. EST on Jan. 14, deorbit burn at 2:50 a.m. EST on Jan. 15, and a return-to-Earth media news conference at 5:45 a.m. EST on Jan. 15. - Officials said undocking and splashdown depend on spacecraft readiness, recovery team readiness, weather, sea state, and other operational factors, and that a specific splashdown time and location will be selected closer to undocking. Summary: The earlier return alters the Crew‑11 schedule and brings the undocking and splashdown dates forward by several days. Mission managers are continuing to monitor the health of the crew member and environmental and operational conditions; selection of the exact splashdown time and location is to be announced nearer the undocking event.