NASA is undertaking an unprecedented medical evacuation from the International Space Station (ISS) for one of its Crew-11 astronauts who developed a serious, undisclosed medical condition. This marks the first time in the ISS's 25-year history that a mission is being cut short for health reasons. The four-member Crew-11, which includes NASA astronauts Zena Cardman (Commander) and Mike Fincke (Pilot), Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, launched to the ISS in August 2025. Although the astronaut's condition is stable and not an immediate emergency, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the need for comprehensive diagnostic and treatment capabilities only available on Earth. The agency has described the situation as a "controlled medical evacuation" rather than an emergency deorbit. Preparations for the crew's early departure began after a planned spacewalk was postponed on January 7, 2026, due to the medical concern. The Crew-11 pilot, Mike Fincke, is scheduled to formally hand over command of Expedition 74 to Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov on Monday, January 12, 2026. The undocking of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule is targeted for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 5 p.m. EST, with splashdown off the coast of California anticipated early on Thursday, January 15, 2026, pending favorable weather conditions. This early return will temporarily leave a skeleton crew of three astronauts on the ISS until the Crew-12 mission can launch, potentially earlier than its originally planned mid-February timeline.