NASA Evacuates 4 Astronauts Early in Rare ISS Medical Move
NASA has evacuated 4 astronauts early from the ISS after a medical issue. The rare mission highlights risks of spaceflight and medical evacuation limits.
Four astronauts have left the International Space Station a month ahead of schedule, in what is the first medical evacuation since the station was placed in Earth's orbit in 1998.
The astronauts, known as Crew 11, are expected to land off the coast of California early Thursday morning local time.
NASA said their mission was cut short due to a medical issue with one of the crew members. The agency did not provide any details about the crew member or the nature of the medical problem, but said they were in stable condition.
Control of the ISS has been handed over to Russian cosmonaut Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and two other crew members.
Astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Japan's Kimia Yui, and cosmonaut Oleg Platonov arrived at the ISS on August 1, expecting to complete a standard six-and-a-half-month stay. They were scheduled to return home in mid-February.
But last week, a spacewalk scheduled for Fincke and Cardman was canceled at the last minute. Hours later, NASA revealed that a crew member had fallen ill.
On Monday, when Mr. Fincke handed over the keys to the ISS to Kud-Sverchkov, he said, "It's a bittersweet experience."
In a social media post, he emphasized that all crew members on board were "stable, safe, and well cared for."
Orbiting 250 miles above Earth, the International Space Station (ISS) circles our planet 16 times a day, traveling at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour.
It is operated by five space agencies and conducts extensive scientific research about space and the effects of living in microgravity on humans, animals, and plants.
Software Services
 |
Start your own gaming platform for just $3,000 |
The ISS has some medical equipment, and astronauts are trained to handle minor medical problems, but there is no doctor on board. The early departure has left a small crew of just three astronauts on the ISS – NASA's Chris Williams and cosmonauts Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev – until four more arrive in February.
"Despite all the changes and all the difficulties, we will continue our work on the ISS, carrying out all the scientific work, maintenance work, no matter what," Kud-Sverchkov said on Monday. He then issued his first command – a group hug.
The reduced crew likely means that scientific work on the ISS will be scaled back.
This incident marks a first in the history of the ISS, which has had a continuous crew for 26 years.
Space missions have been cut short due to health problems only twice before.
In 1985, Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Vasyutin and his crewmates returned from the Salyut 7 space station four months early due to a urinary tract infection.
And in 1987, Soviet cosmonaut Alexander Laveikin had to leave the Mir space station early due to a heart rhythm problem.
As more and more humans travel to space, including for tourism and potential settlements on the Moon or Mars, space experts say that doctors will also need to be part of the missions.
Thank you for reading this content.
Thank you for reading this content.
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
