New astronauts launch to the International Space Station after NASA medical evacuation

A replacement crew launched to the International Space Station after NASA's first mission medical evacuation and is expected to arrive Saturday, restoring the station to full staffing for an eight- to nine-month mission.

A SpaceX mission carried four replacement astronauts toward the International Space Station after NASA carried out its first-ever medical evacuation of an orbiting crewmember. The new crew includes Americans Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, France's Sophie Adenot, and Russia's Andrei Fedyaev. They are scheduled for an eight- to nine-month stay and should arrive at the station on Saturday to fill the vacancies left by the evacuated crew. NASA paused some activities, including spacewalks, while awaiting the replacements. Key details: - The launch took place from Cape Canaveral and was conducted by SpaceX at NASA's request. - The replacement crew is expected to arrive Saturday and will join three astronauts who remained aboard to keep the station running. - NASA has said it ordered no extra medical checkups before liftoff and did not pack new diagnostic gear; an existing ultrasound onboard was used heavily during the earlier illness. - The four astronauts who returned early went to the hospital after splashdown; NASA has not released the ill astronaut's identity or medical condition. - The replacements will test several technologies and studies, including a filter to turn drinking water into emergency IV fluid, an AI- and augmented-reality–guided ultrasound system, jugular vein scans for a blood-clot study, and a simulated moon-landing test. Summary: The launch restores staffing levels on the International Space Station after a historic medical evacuation that shortened a mission. The arriving crew will both resume delayed station work and carry out technology and medical tests during an eight- to nine-month mission that runs through the fall.