What is the story about?
SpaceX's Crew-11 mission successfully returned to Earth early Thursday morning (January 15), splashing down off the coast of California following 167 days
in orbit on the International Space Station (ISS).
The four-person crew of Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, conducted an early mission termination — the first medical evacuation in ISS history.
The Crew Dragon capsule Endeavour touched down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego at around 3.41 am EST, concluding a safe re-entry and parachute-assisted landing following a roughly 11-hour descent from orbit. Recovery personnel commenced post-splashdown activities as soon as they secured the capsule.
Announcing the Crew’s return to Earth, NASA wrote on X, “Welcome home, Crew-11! At 3:41 am ET (0841 UTC), the @SpaceX Dragon spacecraft splashed down off the coast of San Diego, California.”
Welcome home, Crew-11! At 3:41am ET (0841 UTC), the @SpaceX Dragon spacecraft splashed down off the coast of San Diego, California. pic.twitter.com/8LFpdKwizc
— NASA (@NASA) January 15, 2026
The expedition, which was supposed to operate on the ISS until mid-February 2026, was sent home more than a month early because one crew member had an unidentified medical condition. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman announced the mission's termination at a press conference.
NASA and mission partners have stressed that the astronaut was stable in orbit and returned to Earth to receive a more thorough examination and treatment, but they have not named the person or detailed the ailment due to medical privacy concerns.
The Crew Dragon undocked from the station on January 14 at around 5.20 pm EST as a result of the early return, which also prompted quick departure preparations and the postponement of a scheduled spacewalk. NASA reportedly broadcast live coverage of the undocking on its YouTube account, NASA+, and Amazon Prime.
This flight marked Commander Zena Cardman’s first spaceflight, while Mike Fincke flew his fourth mission. Oleg Platonov had his first space flight, and Kimiya Yui recorded his second extended stay in orbit. Over the course of their mission, the team conducted dozens of scientific experiments in fields ranging from bone-loss research to tissue growth in microgravity.
According to NASA officials, the splashdown not only successfully completes Crew-11's scientific objectives but also shows how resilient commercial crew missions can be in the face of unforeseen difficulties. Until the next rotation, Crew-12 arrives in mid-February, the ISS will operate with a smaller crew.
