SpaceX Crew-11 Dragon streaks across California sky during ISS medical evacuation

A SpaceX Crew-11 Dragon returned early from the International Space Station on Jan. 15 for a reported medical evacuation and splashed down off San Diego; witnesses in California filmed a bright re-entry and some reported sonic booms.

SpaceX's Crew-11 Dragon Endeavour returned to Earth on Jan. 15 after an early end to the mission for a medical evacuation. NASA announced a medical concern affecting an undisclosed crew member on Jan. 7 and ordered the crew home a month early, a move reported as the first-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station. Endeavour splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 3:41 a.m. EST and its re-entry was visible across parts of California. Onlookers and a photographer in Morgan Hill recorded a bright trail and some reported hearing sonic booms. Key facts: - The four-person Crew-11 team included NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. - NASA cited an unspecified medical concern on Jan. 7 that affected an undisclosed crewmember and ordered an early return. - Endeavour splashed down in the Pacific at 3:41 a.m. EST (0841 GMT) on Jan. 15. - Residents across parts of California saw a glowing re-entry trail; photographer Cindy Vejar of Morgan Hill captured video of the capsule's passage. - Some witnesses reported sonic booms as the capsule entered the atmosphere; the Dragon decelerated to about 120 miles per hour before deploying its final main parachutes. - The crew were extracted and underwent post-landing medical checks in San Diego and are due to return to Houston; NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said the affected crewmember is "doing fine" and that the agency will share health updates "as soon as it's appropriate to do so." Summary: The early return ended the Crew-11 mission and produced widely seen re-entry footage and reports of sonic booms over California. The crew were extracted and received post-landing medical checks in San Diego and are due to return to Houston. NASA said the affected crewmember is "doing fine" and will provide updates when appropriate.