Hey space fam! 🚀 In a first for the International Space Station (ISS), four crew members undocked early on Wednesday in a medical evacuation. This landmark moment shows how mission control always puts astronaut health first.
At 22:20 GMT, American astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, and Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui climbed into the SpaceX Dragon capsule after spending five months orbiting Earth. The video feed from NASA was pure sci-fi vibes! 🛸👩🚀
NASA hasn’t revealed who’s facing the health issue, but officials stress it’s not an emergency. "The affected crew member was and continues to be in stable condition," said NASA’s Rob Navias. The plan is to run full medical checks back on Earth, where all diagnostic tools are at hand.
Fincke, pilot of Crew-11, shared on social media: "First and foremost, we are all OK. Everyone on board is stable, safe and well cared for. This was the right call, even if it's a bit bittersweet." 💬❤️
The Dragon capsule is set to splash down off the California coast around 08:40 GMT Thursday. Imagine the ride home—rocking through re-entry like a cosmic roller coaster! 🎢🌌
This crew took off in early August and were meant to stay until mid-February, when the next team arrives. NASA’s chief health officer, James Polk, said some lingering questions on the diagnosis drove the early return decision.
Meanwhile, American astronaut Chris Williams and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev remain aboard the ISS, keeping the orbiting lab busy with experiments and spacewalks.
This milestone underlines the incredible tech and teamwork behind every space mission. For young space enthusiasts across South and Southeast Asia—whether you’re following ISRO’s Gaganyaan journey or cheering on Malaysia’s space startup—you know that safety and innovation go hand in hand. Here’s to a smooth recovery and the next giant leap for space science! 🌏✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
