NASA has announced an unprecedented medical evacuation from the International Space Station (ISS), necessitating the early return of the four-member Crew-11 mission. The decision stems from a "serious" but stable medical condition affecting one of the astronauts, whose identity and specific ailment remain undisclosed due to privacy concerns. This marks the first time in the ISS's 25-year history that a crew has been brought back to Earth early for medical reasons. The SpaceX Crew-11, comprising NASA astronauts Zena Cardman (commander) and Mike Fincke (pilot), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, is scheduled to undock from the ISS no earlier than 5 p.m. EST on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Their splashdown is anticipated off the coast of California early on Thursday, January 15, contingent on weather and recovery conditions. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized that while the astronaut is stable and this is not an an emergency deorbit, the advanced diagnostic and treatment capabilities required are not available on the orbiting laboratory. Consequently, returning the entire crew is deemed to be in their best interest. The situation first arose on January 7, leading to the postponement of a planned spacewalk. The Crew-11 mission had launched on August 1, 2025, for a planned six-month stay, meaning their return is approximately one month earlier than originally scheduled. This event underscores the inherent challenges of long-duration spaceflight and the critical importance of astronaut health and safety in international space endeavors.