Crew-11 spacecraft returns safely to Earth after expedited mission due to medical issue

The Crew-11 mission has successfully returned to Earth, marking the end of its journey aboard the International Space Station as the Crew Dragon Endeavour splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 12:40 AM PST on January 15. The crew, which included two NASA astronauts, one astronaut from Japan, and one Russian cosmonaut, was initially scheduled for an eight-month mission that began with their launch on August 1. However, an unforeseen medical issue prompted NASA to expedite their return.

Prior to the crew’s early departure, Commander Michael Fincke and Pilot Zena Cardman, along with mission specialists Kimiya Yui and Oleg Platonov, were actively engaged in activities onboard as part of Expedition 73/74. A scheduled spacewalk was delayed due to a medical concern noted by NASA on January 7, which arose the previous day. While the agency did not provide specifics to protect medical privacy, Chief Health and Medical Officer Dr. James Polk confirmed that the issue was not related to the operational environment or preparations for the upcoming spacewalk.

NASA announced the decision for an early return shortly after the medical development, and during a press briefing, Administrator Jared Issacman detailed that undocking and splashdown timing would be coordinated in subsequent days. This adjustment will also influence the timeline for upcoming missions, including Crew-12, which is currently scheduled to launch on February 15. NASA is exploring options to advance Crew-12’s schedule to accommodate the changes.

Following the announcement of their revised return timeline, the Crew-11 team began packing their belongings and preparing Endeavour for its journey home. This preparation included final checks of their SpaceX pressure suits and completing ongoing scientific experiments. On January 12, they reviewed the procedures for undocking, reentry, and landing, ensuring thorough readiness for their descent back to Earth.

After receiving approval from mission managers for the return, the crew boarded Endeavour, closed and secured the hatch, and undocked from the Harmony module at 5:05 PM EST. Once cleared for reentry, Endeavour completed a deorbit burn approximately nine hours later and began its descent through Earth’s atmosphere.

During reentry, the capsule experienced a temporary communications blackout due to the plasma buildup around it, which lasted several minutes. Once communications were restored, Endeavour deployed its drogue parachutes to slow its descent before the main parachutes were released, leading to a safe splashdown. Recovery teams from SpaceX’s vessel, Shannon, were on hand to secure the capsule and assist the crew following their arrival back on solid ground. After initial checks, the astronauts were set to be returned to Houston, Texas, concluding their mission.