ISS astronauts return to Earth in Nasa’s first ever medical evacuation

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Oliver Holmes and agenciesJanuary 15, 2026 at 11:08 AM

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Four astronauts, including two Americans, a Japanese astronaut, and a Russian cosmonaut, returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on Monday, a month earlier than planned. The mission was cut short due to a "serious medical condition" affecting one of the crew members aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft splashed down off the coast of San Diego after a 10-hour descent. While NASA has not disclosed the astronaut's identity for privacy reasons, they confirmed the individual is in stable condition and is undergoing medical evaluation. This marks NASA's first medical evacuation from the ISS in 65 years of spaceflight. The crew will be taken to Houston for further medical checks and to reunite with their families.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Houston 30% Johnson Space Center 40% San Diego 50% Kimiya Yui 60% Jared Isaacman ×260% Oleg Platonov ×270% Mike Fincke ×370% SpaceX Dragon ×270% SpaceX ×280% Zena Cardman ×380% International Space Station ×390% National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) ×9100%

Keywords

medical evacuation 100% international space station 90% astronauts 80% medical condition 80% nasa 70% spacex dragon 70% spaceflight 60% crew dragon capsule 50% post-flight reconditioning 40%