Astro Hawk (Ian Kluft) ✅🚀🛰️"Crew-11 to return early due to a medical concern with astronaut" by @NASASpaceflight - #Crew11 astronauts are returning early from 6-month stay on orbit due to unspecified medical issue with unspecified astronaut. But due to lifeboat requirements, when a spacecraft has to leave, everyone attached to that craft ( #SpaceX #CrewDragon #Endeavour in this case) goes with it. This is the first time #NASA has ended an #ISS crew rotation early for a medical issue. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2026/01/crew-11-to-return-early-medical-astronaut/ #space
"NASA decides to bring Crew-11 home early, but not an emergency" by Space Policy Online / Marcia Smith - More detail on #NASA decision to bring #Crew11 home from #ISS early due to an unspecified medical issue. A search of history shows how rare this is, but not entirely without precedent. Re-entry schedule TBA for #SpaceX #CrewDragon #Endeavour and crew of 4. https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/nasa-decides-to-bring-crew-11-home-early-but-not-an-emergency/ #space
NASA DECIDES TO BRING CREW-11 HOME EARLY, BUT NOT AN EMERGENCY
Posted: January 8, 2026 9:43 pm ET | Last Updated: January 8, 2026 10:59 pm ET | NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has decided to bring Crew-11 home early because of a medical concern affecting one of the crew members. NASA is not revealing who it is to … Read More Read More
"ISS astronaut medical evacuation latest news: SpaceX readies Dragon spacecraft for Crew-11 return to Earth" by @Spacecom - Space-dot-com is posting recurring updates to #NASA #Crew11 medical evacuation status. #SpaceX #CrewDragon #Endeavour scheduled to undock from #ISS Wed Jan 14 and splashdown in the Pacific off California early Jan 15. https://www.space.com/live/astronaut-medical-evacuation-on-iss-jan-10-2026 #space
"NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Dragon Splashdown at 3:41 am EST" by #NASA Commercial Crew - #SpaceX #CrewDragon #Endeavour safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California at 00:41 US Pacific Time. For crew privacy, NASA is not releasing info on which astronaut had the urgent medical condition that led to early return of #Crew11. https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/commercialcrew/2026/01/15/nasas-spacex-crew-11-dragon-splashdown-at-341-a-m-est/ #ISS #space
I was asked if the night splashdown of #Crew11 #CrewDragon #Endeavour indicated extra urgency. Actually, that's normal. #NASA has done night splashdowns after Demo-2 (test pilots before Crew-1) in 2020 off Tallahassee FL was mobbed by gawking civilian boats. It was _extremely_ hazardous for untrained people to approach a spacecraft after re-entry until hazmat-suited specialists with sensors verified deadly-toxic propellants had dispersed. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SpaceX_Demo-2_Landing_(NHQ202008020020).jpg #ISS #space
"NASA reveals the astronaut who required 1st medical evacuation from the International Space Station" by @Spacecom - With the astronaut's permission, #NASA disclosed that #Crew11 pilot (2nd in command) Mike Fincke was the astronaut with a medical issue that led to early return from #ISS. The issue was urgent but not an emergency, requiring medical equipment not available on station. Details remain private and we should all respect his #privacy, as with anyone. https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/nasa-reveals-the-astronaut-who-required-1st-medical-evacuation-from-the-international-space-station #space
#NASA used to have a reputation for being almost brutal with intolerance for imperfections in astronauts. They have lightened up in recent years, basically allowing astronauts to be human. (What a thought!) While wishing the best for Mike Fincke, one telling thing to watch for about NASA in the future is if he ever gets a spaceflight assignment again. But even in normal circumstances it's often years between spaceflights, with lots of research & training to perform on the ground. #Crew11 #space
FreddyB Aviation PhotographyThe med kit and instructions is quite impressive actually
https://www.governmentattic.org/19docs/NASA-ISSmedicalEmergManual_2016.pdf
@cvvhrn And that's your area of expertise!
@AstroHawk The list of Psych drugs caught me off guard though
It also has stuff like ETT tubes and a bougie that you cannot just watch a youtube and go to town with it. The LMA's (Laryngeal Mask Airway) make way more sense and are easier to place then ETT tubes but have limitations
The bougie is a device that aids in endotracheal intubation . You feel the rings in the airway and can help in difficult intubation
@cvvhrn Medical training details like that provide us a glimpse into why it takes so long for each astronaut and crew to train for a spaceflight. They also have to learn all the ISS systems. They have to take turns as CapCom (Capsule Communicator name originating from Apollo era) because when the station calls or gets called, they're always talking with an astronaut. And the list goes on...
@AstroHawk Without a doubt. Some of these procedures are advance practice RN or MD / Anesthesia level