Four astronauts have made an emergency return from the International Space Station after one crew member developed a serious medical issue. The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, named Endeavor, undocked from the ISS and began its journey back to Earth on Wednesday.
The crew included American astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. Their mission was cut short after 167 days in space.
NASA has not said which astronaut is unwell or what the illness is, to respect their privacy. However, they said the astronaut needs medical care that can only be provided on Earth.
The capsule is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean near California after about 10 and a half hours in flight. This marks the first time NASA has ended a mission early because of a health emergency.
Earlier, a spacewalk was cancelled on 7 January due to the medical concern. Mike Fincke, who has been to space before, wrote online that everyone on board is stable and being looked after.
NASA plans to send a new group of astronauts, Crew-12, to the space station in mid-February. Until then, three astronauts will remain aboard the ISS.
