NASA’s Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) is coming to an unexpectedly abrupt end. The four astronauts who make up the mission crew will be returned to Earth “within the coming days” after the agency decided to end their stay early because of an undisclosed medical issue.
“It is in the best interest of our astronauts to return Crew-11 ahead of their planned departure,” said Jared Isaacman, NASA administrator, during a Thursday press briefing. Agency officials also emphasized that the situation was not an emergency deorbit. A further update is expected within the next 48 hours as to when the crew will depart the station for Earth.
The decision marks the first time NASA has opted to end a mission early because of an astronaut’s health—and the first time such an incident has affected the ISS, which has been permanently occupied since November 2000.