NASA has decided to end a mission on the International Space Station prematurely due to a medical emergency involving one of the astronauts. The space agency announced on Thursday that the four-member U.S.-Japanese-Russian crew will be returning to Earth earlier than scheduled in the upcoming days.
The cancellation of NASA’s first spacewalk of the year was attributed to the health issue, without disclosing the identity of the astronaut or specific medical details for privacy reasons. However, it was confirmed that the crew member affected is now in stable condition.
Currently, seven astronauts are residing and conducting activities on the space station, with the most recent crew arrival in August following a launch from Florida.
During a press conference on Thursday, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman commended the quick actions taken across the agency to ensure the well-being and safety of the astronauts.
The returning crew, which arrived at the space station via SpaceX in August for a planned stay of at least six months, consisted of U.S. astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.
The spacewalk that was canceled was intended for Cardman and Fincke to prepare for the installation of future solar panels to enhance the station’s power supply. Notably, this mission marked Fincke’s fourth visit to the space station, Yui’s second, and the first spaceflight for Cardman and Platonov.
Meanwhile, three other astronauts currently residing on the space station include NASA’s Chris Williams, as well as Russia’s Sergei Mikaev and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, who commenced their eight-month stay in November after launching aboard a Soyuz rocket. Their return to Earth is anticipated in the summer months.