NASA hopes to return Crew 11 to Earth subsequent week over medical challenge

NASA stated Friday that it plans to return the Crew 11 to Earth subsequent week, simply at some point after saying {that a} crew member had suffered a medical challenge that might require the crew to shorten its journey to the International Space Station.

According to NASA, Crew 11 is focusing on a departure from the area station aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour capsule “no earlier” than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Jan. 14, with a splash down off the coast of California at about 3:40 a.m. Eastern Time on Jan. 15.

The scheduled return might change relying on climate situations, NASA stated.

“Mission managers continue monitoring conditions in the recovery area, as undocking of the SpaceX Dragon depends on spacecraft readiness, recovery team readiness, weather, sea states, and other factors,” NASA stated in a press release Friday. “NASA and SpaceX will select a specific splashdown time and location closer to the Crew-11 spacecraft undocking.”

On Thursday, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman reported in a information convention that an unidentified member of Crew 11 was coping with “a medical situation” that might require the crew to return to Earth ahead of anticipated.

Officials didn’t specify the character of the medical challenge, with Isaacman solely saying that the crew member was “stable.”

Crew 11 consists of commander Zena Cardman, astronaut Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.

It launched to the area station on Aug. 1, and had deliberate to return on Feb. 20, after the arrival of their substitute, Crew 12.  

The scenario first unfolded Wednesday, when NASA disclosed {that a} spacewalk had been canceled attributable to a “medical concern” with the crew member.

Chief Health and Medical Officer Dr. J.D. Polk stated in Thursday’s information convention that the crew member was not injured or made in poor health by any operational side of dwelling aboard the area station, including that spacewalk preparations performed no position within the incident.

The departure of Crew 11 would go away three folks aboard the area station, NASA astronaut Chris Williams, and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. 

William Harwood

contributed to this report.