On January 7, 2026, NASA announced the postponement of a scheduled spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) due to a medical concern affecting one of its astronauts. This critical decision was followed by the unprecedented move to conduct the first-ever medical evacuation from the ISS. The four-member Crew-11 mission, comprising NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, began their early return to Earth. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, carrying the ailing astronaut and their three crewmates, undocked from the ISS on January 14, 2026. They successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on January 15, 2026, ending their mission more than a month ahead of schedule. NASA officials confirmed the affected crew member was in stable condition but did not disclose the nature of the medical issue, citing privacy. This incident marks a historic moment in human spaceflight, as it is the first time an ISS mission has been cut short due to astronaut health reasons under NASA's purview. While the initial news focused on the spacewalk postponement, the subsequent evacuation highlighted the seriousness of the situation and NASA's readiness to adapt to unforeseen medical challenges in orbit. The remaining three astronauts on the ISS will maintain operations until the arrival of the next crew rotation, Crew-12, expected in mid-February 2026.