The First Medical Evacuation in ISS History
This story synthesizes reports about the International Space Station (ISS) from late 2024 through early 2026. The period is marked by a significant medical incident that resulted in the first-ever crew evacuation from the ISS, ongoing discussions regarding air leaks in a Russian module, and subsequent crew rotations, including the accelerated launch of a replacement crew.
Medical Incident & Evacuation of Crew-11
The Incident
On January 7, 2026, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, a member of the Expedition 74 and Crew-11 mission, experienced a sudden medical event. Fincke, a 58-year-old veteran astronaut on his fourth spaceflight, reported an inability to speak for approximately 20 minutes while eating dinner and preparing for a planned spacewalk. He stated he felt no pain and has no memory of the episode. His crewmates observed his distress and contacted flight surgeons on Earth. The space station's onboard ultrasound machine was used during the emergency response.
Evacuation and Return
Following the incident, NASA decided to end the Crew-11 mission early. The four crew members—NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov—departed the ISS on January 14, 2026. Their SpaceX Dragon capsule, named Endeavour, undocked from the station and splashed down off the coast of San Diego, California, on January 15.
This event marked the first medical evacuation of a crew from the ISS in its 25-year history of continuous human habitation.
The crew was transported to a hospital in San Diego for evaluation before proceeding to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston for post-flight reconditioning.
Aftermath and Medical Investigation
NASA and medical professionals have not publicly diagnosed Fincke's condition. Doctors have ruled out a heart attack and choking. Fincke stated that the cause of the event remains under investigation, with factors possibly related to his 549 days in space being considered. He has undergone extensive testing since his return and reports feeling well.
Fincke voluntarily identified himself as the affected astronaut in late February 2026 to curb public speculation, noting that his crewmates' quick response and guidance from flight surgeons stabilized his condition. NASA stated it is reviewing astronaut medical records for similar in-flight occurrences.
Impact on ISS Operations
The early departure of Crew-11 reduced the ISS crew from seven to three individuals: NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. NASA announced a temporary suspension of routine and emergency spacewalks, as these require additional crew members for buddy-system safety protocols. NASA and SpaceX worked to accelerate the launch of the next crew rotation, Crew-12.
Zvezda Module Air Leak and Shelter-in-Place Event
The Issue
The Russian Zvezda service module, a key component of the ISS launched in 2000, has experienced intermittent air leaks in its PrK transfer tunnel since at least 2019. NASA and Roscosmos have held differing views on the root cause of the cracks and the best methods for repair.
The Incident: June 2026
On June 5, 2026, the rate of the air leak increased from approximately one pound of air per day to two pounds per day. Roscosmos planned to use a saw to access a potential leak site, a method with which NASA expressed disagreement, citing elevated risk to the structure.
As a precaution, NASA ordered five of the seven crew members to take shelter in a docked SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. This "safe haven" procedure was initiated at 9:04 AM ET. The affected crew included the four members of Crew-12 (Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot, and Andrey Fedyaev) and NASA astronaut Chris Williams. Approximately two hours later, Roscosmos paused its repair efforts to gather more data. NASA subsequently rescinded the shelter order, allowing the crew to resume normal operations.
NASA stated no evacuation was required and the situation did not threaten crew safety.
Long-Term Plan
Following this event, reports indicated that the affected PrK segment of the Zvezda module was likely to be permanently sealed off. ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen noted that sealing the chamber would not significantly impact station operations, as the docking port in that tunnel is not essential.
Crew Rotation: SpaceX Crew-12
Mission Acceleration
The SpaceX Crew-12 mission was accelerated to replace the evacuated Crew-11 and restore the ISS to its standard crew complement of seven.
Launch and Docking
After a launch attempt was delayed by two days due to weather, the Crew-12 mission launched on February 13, 2026, at approximately 5:15 AM EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The Falcon 9 rocket performed a successful landing. The Crew Dragon capsule, named Freedom, docked with the ISS on February 14, 2026. The crew's journey to the station took approximately 34 hours.
Crew Composition
The Crew-12 team is commanded by NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, on her second spaceflight. The pilot is NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway, on his first spaceflight. Mission specialists are Sophie Adenot of the European Space Agency and Andrey Fedyaev of Roscosmos, both of whom are on their second spaceflights. The crew is scheduled for an approximately nine-month stay on the ISS, part of Expeditions 74 and 75.
Mission Objectives
During their assignment, the crew will conduct a full schedule of scientific research, station maintenance, and technology demonstrations. Planned research includes studies on space-based food production, the effects of microgravity on blood circulation and the brain, and medical investigations into bacteria that cause pneumonia. They will also conduct simulated lunar landings to study gravity's effects on cognition.
Broader Context and Other Operations
- SpaceX CRS-34: The 34th commercial resupply mission (CRS-34) launched on May 15, 2026, delivering approximately 6,500 pounds of cargo and scientific experiments, including studies on microgravity simulation, bone health, and planetary formation. The Dragon spacecraft docked on May 17, 2026, and departed on June 16, 2026, returning research samples and hardware to Earth.
- CRS-33 and Reboost Capability: The CRS-33 Dragon cargo capsule, which arrived at the ISS in August 2025, demonstrated a new reboost capability for the station. It performed six reboost maneuvers before undocking on February 26, 2026, to return scientific materials to Earth.
- Falcon 9 Grounding: The Falcon 9 rocket was temporarily grounded by the FAA in early February 2026 following an upper-stage anomaly during a Starlink satellite mission. The grounding was lifted after a SpaceX investigation, allowing the Crew-12 launch to proceed.
- Artemis 2 Mission: The Artemis 2 mission, a 10-day crewed lunar flyby planned for early February 2026, was delayed to March 2026 due to a hydrogen leak. NASA stated that the Crew-12 medical evacuation and acceleration did not impact the Artemis 2 schedule.