NASA's Crew-11 heads home from space, a month early

"A medical evacuation of an astronaut from the International Space Station is underway. A four-person crew departed the orbiting lab late today in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. It was prompted by what NASA described as a serious but stable medical issue of one of the Crew-11 astronauts. It is the first time NASA has cut a mission short because of an astronaut's health."

"This time, it's just about a month earlier than anticipated. The medical issue has not been revealed publicly, and while the unnamed astronaut is stable, the agency still decided it's best to get them back on the ground for an evaluation with equipment they don't have at the station. So today, that crew of four donned their space suits, strapped into their seats, closed the hatch and began the nearly 10-hour trip back home."

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station experienced a serious but stable medical condition, prompting a medical evacuation. The four-person Crew-11 team undocked in a SpaceX Crew Dragon and returned to Earth about a month earlier than scheduled. The unnamed astronaut required evaluation and ground-based equipment not available on the station. All four crew members returned because the Dragon capsule is the only transport available for that crew. The undocking and nearly 10-hour return proceeded with crew donning suits, closing the hatch, and initiating reentry. Mission curtailment represents the first NASA mission cut short for astronaut health; similar historical precedent is rare.

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