NASA has confirmed that the four-member Crew-11 mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will return to Earth ahead of schedule following a medical issue experienced by one of its astronauts on January 7, 2026. The identity of the astronaut and the specifics of their condition have not been disclosed, citing medical privacy, but NASA has stated the crew member is in stable condition. The situation prompted the immediate postponement of a planned spacewalk on January 8, 2026, which was intended to complete preparations for a new solar array. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and Chief Health and Medical Officer Dr. J.D. Polk explained that while it is not an emergency de-orbit, the decision was made out of an abundance of caution, as the necessary diagnostic and treatment capabilities are not available on the ISS. This marks a historic moment as it is the first time in U.S. space history that a mission has been cut short due to a medical issue. The Crew-11, composed of NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, launched on August 1, 2025, and was originally slated to return in mid-February 2026. Their early return, expected in the coming days, will shorten their planned six-month stay. Officials stress that the incident is not related to space station operations or an injury.