Ailing astronaut returns to Earth early, splashing down near San Diego, in NASA’s first medical evacuation

Source: San Diego Union-Tribune

“An ailing astronaut returned to Earth with three others on Thursday, ending their space station mission more than a month early in NASA’s first medical evacuation. SpaceX guided the capsule to a middle-of-the-night splashdown in the Pacific near San Diego, less than 11 hours after the astronauts exited the International Space Station. … Officials have refused to identify the astronaut who developed the health problem last week or explain what happened, citing medical privacy. While the astronaut was stable in orbit, NASA wanted them back on Earth as soon as possible to receive proper care and diagnostic testing. The entry and splashdown required no special changes or accommodations, officials said, and the recovery ship had its usual allotment of medical experts on board.” (01/15/26)

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/01/15/ailing-astronaut-returns-to-earth-early-in-nasas-first-medical-evacuation/