SpaceX Crew-11 Makes Emergency Landing | WATCH

In a first for the International Space Station's (ISS) 25-year history, NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 mission concluded early on January 15, 2026, with the safe splashdown of four astronauts in the Pacific Ocean following a medical issue that prompted their expedited return to Earth.

The Crew-11 mission launched on August 1, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule named "Endeavour" from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew spent 167 days in space, including 165 days aboard the ISS as part of Expedition 74, which began on December 8, 2025. The astronauts conducted various scientific experiments, maintenance tasks, and operations during their stay.

The crew consisted of:

Zena Cardman (NASA, mission commander; first spaceflight).

Mike Fincke (NASA, pilot; fourth spaceflight, accumulating 549 total days in space across missions).

Kimiya Yui (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency - JAXA; second spaceflight, totaling 309 days in space).

Oleg Platonov (Roscosmos; first spaceflight).

On January 7, 2026, NASA canceled a planned spacewalk by Cardman and Fincke scheduled for January 8 due to an undisclosed "medical concern" with one ISS crew member. The following day, January 8, NASA announced the decision to end the Crew-11 mission early to allow the affected astronaut to receive proper medical evaluation and treatment on Earth. The ISS lacks the advanced diagnostic tools needed for certain conditions, making the return necessary.

NASA emphasized that the crew member is stable and the situation is not an emergency de-orbit but a controlled medical evacuation. No details about the astronaut's identity or the nature of the condition were released, citing medical privacy. NASA Chief Health and Medical Officer James Polk confirmed it was unrelated to space station operations. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman noted that the risk of reentry forces exacerbating the condition was deemed lower than remaining in orbit without a full diagnosis.

This marks the first time a U.S.-led human spaceflight mission has ended prematurely due to a medical issue on the ISS, though statistical models suggest such events could occur about once every three years. A historical precedent occurred in 1985 during a Soviet Salyut-7 mission, when commander Vladimir Vasyutin's undisclosed illness (possibly a prostate infection) led to an early return.

The mission was originally slated to end in late February 2026, after the arrival of a replacement crew, but was shortened by several weeks.

In the days leading up to departure, the Crew-11 astronauts focused on packing cargo, reviewing return procedures, transferring hardware, uninstalling and loading science hardware into the Dragon capsule, practicing deorbit maneuvers on a computer, and discussing readiness with ground controllers. Cardman led training on using respirators for potential emergencies like ammonia leaks and transferred emergency gear with assistance from NASA Flight Engineer Chris Williams. Fincke and Yui handled science hardware tasks, while all four packed personal items.

The hatch between the ISS and the Crew Dragon closed at approximately 3:30 p.m. EST (2030 GMT) on January 14. The capsule undocked from the ISS's Harmony module at 5:20 p.m. EST (2220 GMT) on January 14, beginning a 10.5-hour journey back to Earth.

The spacecraft performed its deorbit burn at 2:51 a.m. EST on January 15, initiating the drop from orbit. It then entered a communications blackout during atmospheric reentry. Drogue parachutes deployed at 18,000 feet, followed by main parachutes at 6,000 feet.

Splashdown occurred on schedule at 3:41 a.m. EST (0841 GMT; 12:41 a.m. PST) in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California. Weather conditions were favorable, and the crew was reported safe and in good spirits. Recovery teams from SpaceX secured the capsule, extracted the astronauts, and began post-flight medical checks. The crew was greeted by dolphins swimming nearby upon splashdown. They were then transported by helicopter to shore for further evaluations.

Post-splashdown, Commander Zena Cardman stated, "It's so good to be home! With deep gratitude to the teams that got us there and back." NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman led a news conference at 5:45 a.m. EST to discuss the return.

Crew-11's departure left a three-person "skeleton crew" on the ISS: NASA's Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev, who arrived via Soyuz on November 27, 2025. This reduced staffing is expected to last about a month until SpaceX's Crew-12 launches, targeted for February 15, 2026 (potentially accelerated). NASA expressed no concerns, noting Williams' comprehensive training and support from ground control centers worldwide. The ISS has been continuously inhabited since November 2000, with crew sizes historically varying from three to seven.