NASA announced plans to begin the early return to Earth of a four-member crew currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The agency said the Crew-11 mission could undock from the station as early as Wednesday, January 14, during the late afternoon hours in the United States. According to NASA, the spacecraft is expected to separate from the ISS around 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. If conditions allow, the crew would splash down off the coast of California in the early hours of Thursday, January 15, though the exact timing will only be confirmed closer to undocking.

The space agency emphasized that the final schedule will depend on several factors, including weather conditions, sea state, and other operational considerations that are critical for a safe reentry and recovery. The decision to bring the crew back ahead of schedule is linked to a medical issue affecting one of the astronauts. NASA stated that the condition is not related to the crew’s work aboard the space station and does not constitute a medical emergency. NASA’s chief health and medical officer, James Polk, said the affected crew member is in stable condition and that the early return is being carried out as a precautionary measure.

The agency declined to disclose the astronaut’s identity or specific medical details, citing privacy protocols. As a result of the situation, NASA canceled a spacewalk that had been scheduled on the ISS with short notice. The activity was to involve U.S. astronauts Zena Cardman and Michael Fincke, who remain aboard the station along with the rest of the crew. Crew-11 also includes Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.

The four have been on the International Space Station since early August and were originally expected to remain in orbit for several additional weeks. NASA reiterated that astronaut health and safety remain its top priority and noted that adjusting mission timelines in response to medical considerations is a standard part of human spaceflight operations. The agency said it will continue to monitor both medical and operational factors in the coming days as preparations move forward for a return that would represent a rare instance of an early crew departure from the International Space Station.