NASA astronauts return early from space mission due to 'medical concern'

A SpaceX team is heading back to Earth after their ISS mission was shortened due to “a medical concern” with one of the astronauts.

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the four members of Crew-11 started their return at about 5:20pm EST on Wednesday, (January 14).

They are set to land near San Diego on Thursday, (January 15) at around 12:41am PST.

NASA had earlier declared the team would return "sooner than scheduled” on January 8 due to a “medical issue” affecting a crew member residing and working in the space station.

According to The Washington Post, this marks the first occasion in ISS history that a mission has been cut short.

The Crew-11 team was engaged in scientific research during their 165 days on the ISS, with their space journey totaling 167 days. They were initially expected to remain until mid-February.

The crew consists of US astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, an astronaut from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.

Dr. James Polk, NASA’s leading health and medical officer, noted in a January 8 press briefing that the decision to return early was made to prioritise the “well-being of the crew member,” and that it was “in their best interest.”

“This isn’t linked to the mission conditions,” Polk clarified, mentioning "it wasn’t an injury from mission activities."

The identity of the astronaut facing the "medical concern" and the nature of the issue are not publicly known.