Human World

Crew-11 astronauts returned to Earth this morning

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Kelly Kizer Whitt

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January 15, 2026

Night sea scene of a big ship and a round capsule in the water with the silhouette of a human on it. — The SpaceX Dragon Endeavour capsule carrying Crew-11 splashed down off the coast of California in the early hours of this morning, January 15, 2026. Standing on the capsule is a support team member, readying the capsule to be winched onto the support boat before the eventual exit of the 4 astronauts. Image via NASA.

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Crew-11 astronauts returned to Earth

Crew-11’s four astronauts splashed down off the coast of California at 2:41 CST (8:41 UTC) this morning, having departed the International Space Station (ISS) earlier than planned due to a crew member suffering what NASA called a “serious medical condition.”

NASA administrator Jared Isaacman says the crew member in question – who is yet to be named – is “doing fine” and “in good spirits” following the nearly 11-hour journey back to Earth.

The crew spent 165 days at the ISS. Their trip was set to end in mid-February, but was cut a month short by the first medical evacuation in the ISS’s history.

Space-suited astronaut standing next to a roundish capsule on a ship deck. There are 8 people around him. — NASA astronaut Mike Fincke was the 1st of Crew-11 to be helped out of the return capsule. Image via NASA.

Watch the Crew-11 astronauts return to Earth here.

Medical situation aboard the ISS

NASA officials announced in a news conference on January 8, 2026, that they were bringing the four astronauts of Crew-11 home early from the International Space Station. The day before, NASA had postponed a planned January 8 spacewalk due to what it said was a “serious medical condition” with one of the astronauts. NASA isn’t naming the astronaut or the specific illness, due to what it calls “privacy issues.” Crew-11 consists of Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, cosmonaut Oleg Platonov and JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui. The astronauts arrived at the ISS in August 2025. They were set to return to Earth in February 2026.

During the news conference, NASA stressed that crew safety is its highest priority. So, due to the medical situation, NASA has decided to bring the astronauts home early. While NASA did not name the astronaut nor the specific condition from which they are suffering, it did say the astronaut is stable but “needs help from doctors and equipment on the ground.”

NASA also said it is the first-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station. But NASA said its actions are an effort to err on the side of caution. It stressed this is not an emergency.

NASA was able to say that the medical incident isn’t related to space station operations, or due to an injury.

Crew-11: 3 men and 1 woman in blue flight suits posing for a portrait. — This is Crew-11, which has been aboard the International Space Station since August 2025. From bottom left: Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman. From top left: cosmonaut Oleg Platonov and JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui. NASA has not disclosed which crew member is ill. Image via Robert Markowitz/ NASA.

What happens next?

Now Crew-11 has left the space station. There are still three other astronauts on board to maintain the operations there, including one American. The next astronauts to journey to the space station – Crew-12 – are not scheduled to launch until February 15, 2026.

Long, gleaming metallic space station made of cylindrical modules and many large rectangular solar panels. — View larger. | The International Space Station. Image via NASA.

Bottom line: The four Crew-11 astronauts returned to Earth earlier this morning, January 15, aboard the Dragon Endeavour capsule. The astronaut who needed evacuation, NASA says, is “doing fine.”

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January 15, 2026

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Human World

Kelly Kizer Whitt

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About the Author:

Kelly Kizer Whitt - EarthSky’s nature and travel vlogger on YouTube - writes and edits some of the most fascinating stories at EarthSky.org. She's been writing about science, with a focus on astronomy, for decades. She began her career at Astronomy Magazine and made regular contributions to other outlets, including AstronomyToday and the Sierra Club. She has nine published books, including a children's picture book, Solar System Forecast, and a young adult dystopian novel, A Different Sky.