A four-member crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS), designated Crew-11, is embarking on an unprecedented early return to Earth due to a medical concern affecting one of its astronauts. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov is scheduled to undock from the orbital outpost on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST (2200 GMT). This marks the first medical evacuation in the 25-year history of the International Space Station. The decision for an early return was made by NASA after a medical issue arose on January 7, leading to the postponement of a scheduled spacewalk. While the astronaut's condition is reported as stable and not an emergency, the limitations of in-orbit diagnostics necessitate a return to Earth for a comprehensive medical evaluation. Due to medical privacy protocols, the identity of the affected astronaut and the specific nature of their condition have not been disclosed. The Crew-11 mission originally launched in August 2025 and was slated for a six-month stay, with their return initially planned for mid-February 2026. Their journey back to Earth is expected to culminate in a splashdown off the coast of Southern California at approximately 3:40 a.m. EST (0840 GMT) on Thursday, January 15. The remaining three crew members on the ISS — NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, who arrived in November 2025 — will continue their mission. NASA and SpaceX are providing live coverage of the undocking and subsequent return, highlighting the significance of this complex and historic operation. This event underscores the inherent risks and robust medical protocols in human spaceflight, prioritizing astronaut safety above all else.