NASA's First Medical Evacuation from Space

An ailing astronaut was evacuated from the International Space Station early, marking NASA's first medical evacuation from orbit. The crew, evacuated for medical reasons, splashed down near San Diego. Despite medical privacy, NASA confirmed the astronaut's stable condition and initiated plans to expedite a fresh crew launch.

An ailing astronaut, part of a four-member crew, returned to Earth prematurely in what marked NASA's first medical evacuation from the International Space Station.

Guided by SpaceX, the capsule splashed down near San Diego less than 11 hours after leaving the station. The astronauts, including Japan's Kimiya Yui and Russia's Oleg Platonov, were transferred to a hospital for overnight medical checks.

NASA's Jared Isaacman confirmed the astronaut's stable condition but withheld details due to privacy. Coordinating closely with SpaceX, NASA plans to expedite the launch of a new crew to ensure continued operations at the station.

(With inputs from agencies.)