CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – In a first for NASA’s medical evacuation protocols, an astronaut requiring physician attention has egressed the International Space Station alongside three fellow crew members on Wednesday.

The quartet of returning spacefarers, hailing from the United States, Russia, and Japan, are slated for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, in proximity to San Diego, via SpaceX. This maneuver is anticipated to conclude in the early hours of Thursday, effectively curtailing their scheduled mission by over a month’s duration.

“While the timing of this departure was not anticipated,” stated NASA astronaut Zena Cardman prior to the return voyage, “what was entirely predictable was the remarkable cohesion this crew demonstrated, functioning as a unified family to support and care for one another.”

Authorities have maintained confidentiality regarding the identity of the spacefarer requiring medical attention last week and have not disclosed the specifics of their health condition.

The astronaut experiencing the health concern is “stable, secure, and receiving exemplary care,” as communicated by outgoing space station commander Mike Fincke via social media earlier this week.

“This deliberate decision was made to facilitate comprehensive medical assessments on solid ground, where the full spectrum of diagnostic resources is readily accessible.”

SpaceX Dragon's departure from the International Space Station
The SpaceX Dragon capsule is shown actively disengaging from the International Space Station, carrying four members of NASA’s Crew-11, on Wednesday, January 14th. (NASA)

NASA has affirmed that the concluding entry and splashdown operations will follow established protocols, with the customary contingent of medical specialists positioned aboard the recovery vessel in the Pacific.

The splashdown for Crew-11, scheduled to occur off the Californian coastline, is presently timed for approximately 08:40 UTC (03:40 EST) on Thursday, January 15th.

The crew’s return can be observed in the video below:

Having commenced their mission in August, Cardman, Fincke, Kimiya Yui of Japan, and Oleg Platonov of Russia were originally slated to remain aboard the orbital laboratory until late February. However, a pivotal decision was made on January 7th when NASA abruptly rescinded a scheduled spacewalk for Cardman and Fincke the subsequent day, following which the crew’s expedited return was announced.

Officials have indicated that the health issue encountered is not linked to any spacewalk preparations or ongoing station activities. However, citing the imperative of medical privacy, no further details have been provided, with assurances that the situation did not constitute an emergency.

A solitary American astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts currently remain within the orbiting facility, having completed just over a third of an eight-month expedition that initiated with a launch via a Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan. Concurrently, NASA and SpaceX are advancing plans for the launch of a new four-person crew from Florida, with a mid-February target.

Predictive modeling had suggested the likelihood of a medical evacuation from the space station occurring approximately every three years. However, in its 65-year history of human spaceflight endeavors, NASA has not previously undertaken such an operation. The Russian space program, conversely, has experienced such exigencies.

In 1985, Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Vasyutin experienced a severe infection or a related malady while on board his nation’s Salyut 7 space station, prompting an early termination of his mission. A few other Soviet cosmonauts faced less critical health challenges that led to shortened flights.

This marked the inaugural space voyage for Cardman, aged 38, a specialist in biology and polar exploration who was unable to participate in scheduled spacewalks. Similarly, Platonov, 39, a former fighter pilot in the Russian Air Force, experienced a delay in his spaceflight aspirations for several years due to an undisclosed health impediment.

Cardman’s launch had been scheduled for the preceding year but was deferred to accommodate the return of NASA’s Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were stranded in orbit for nearly a year due to complications with Boeing’s spacecraft.

Fincke, 58, a retired Air Force colonel, and Yui, 55, a veteran fighter pilot with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, were both seasoned space travelers.

Last week, Yui commemorated his 300th day in space across two orbital missions, sharing spectacular terrestrial vistas, including iconic landmarks like Mount Fuji and mesmerizing auroral displays.

“I wish to imprint this indelibly upon my vision, and even more so within my heart,” Yui expressed on the social platform X. “Soon, I too shall join those minuscule points of light upon the Earth’s surface.”

NASA officials have indicated that prolonging the astronaut’s stay in space for an additional month without adequate medical support presented a greater risk than temporarily diminishing the space station’s complement by more than half.

In the interim, until SpaceX facilitates the arrival of a subsequent crew, NASA has stated that routine and even emergency spacewalks will be suspended. Such extravehicular activities necessitate a two-person crew, with essential backup support provided by personnel within the orbiting complex.

“The paramount consideration, intrinsically and perpetually, remains the health and well-being of our astronauts,” declared NASA’s newly appointed administrator, Jared Isaacman, when announcing the decision last week.