For the first time in the history of the International Space Station (ISS), the US space agency NASA is bringing a crew of four astronauts back to Earth early due to health problems of a crew member. The return flight should take place “in the coming days,” NASA announced at a press conference. You should always be prepared for such situations.
NASA initially did not want to comment on the identity of the crew member or details of the health problem. But it has nothing to do with the work of the crew on board the ISS and is not an emergency, said NASA’s chief medical officer, James Polk. The crew member is in stable condition.
Successor crew could now start earlier
NASA had previously canceled an external mission to the ISS planned for Thursday at short notice due to the crew member’s health problems. The US astronauts Zena Cardman and Michael Fincke were supposed to take part in the external mission. Together with the Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui and the Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, they have been on board the ISS as “Crew 11” since the beginning of August and were actually supposed to stay for a few more weeks.
The start of the successor crew was planned for mid-February and could now be brought forward, NASA said. Astronauts from all over the world have been living and researching on the ISS for around 25 years.
Astronauts from all over the world have been living and researching on the ISS for around 25 years.
