In a rare mid-mission development, NASA on Wednesday night postponed a planned spacewalk and is considering bringing its current crew home earlier than scheduled due to a medical concern involving one of the astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The agency has not released the individual’s identity or specific health details due to medical privacy rules, but stressed that the person is in stable condition.
What happened — spacewalk postponed
A spacewalk (extravehicular activity or EVA) scheduled for Thursday, January 8, was abruptly postponed after NASA’s medical team identified a concern with one crew member that arose Wednesday afternoon.
The excursion was to be conducted by two ISS crew members as part of routine maintenance and upgrades to the station’s exterior hardware.
NASA’s official statement said the decision was made out of caution, and the agency will share a new date for the spacewalk once it has more clarity on the situation.
Considering an early return
Normally, astronauts on the ISS complete missions of six to eight months before returning to Earth aboard a spacecraft such as SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
The current team, known as Crew-11, was launched in August 2025 and was slated to come home in spring 2026.
However, NASA is now evaluating all available options, including the possibility of ending the Crew-11 mission earlier than planned so that the crew — including the astronaut with the medical concern — can return safely.
Mission managers have emphasized that crew safety is the top priority in their deliberations.
Who’s on the station
Crew-11 consists of four astronauts from NASA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the Russian space agency Roscosmos:
Mike Fincke (NASA)
Zena Cardman (NASA)
Kimiya Yui (JAXA)
Oleg Platonov (Roscosmos)
If an early return is decided, NASA would coordinate a Crew Dragon reentry mission to bring the four astronauts safely back to Earth.
The timing of such a return has not been set and remains under evaluation.
Priorities & processes
NASA routinely trains for a wide range of contingencies on orbit, including medical issues.
While the agency did not disclose the nature of the health concern, NASA policy generally limits public comments to protect astronaut privacy.
Spacewalks require significant physical effort and carry inherent risks, so delaying them in response to health developments is consistent with NASA’s safety protocols.
Earlier similar postponements have occurred due to suit issues or discomfort, though an early crew return for medical reasons remains uncommon.
What’s next
NASA has said it will provide updates in the next 24 hours as mission control and flight surgeons continue to monitor the situation and make plans.
The rescheduling of the postponed spacewalk and final decisions about Crew-11’s return timeline will be announced once leadership has more information.
