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The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft Endeavour undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on January 14, 2026, marking the early return of NASA’s Crew-11 mission crew due to a medical concern affecting one unnamed astronaut.

The undocking occurred at approximately 5:20 p.m. EST, following hatch closure between the Dragon capsule and the ISS’s Harmony module at 3:29 p.m. EST. The four-person crew—NASA astronauts Zena Cardman (commander) and Mike Fincke (pilot), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov —boarded the spacecraft earlier in the day, completed suit checks, and bid farewell to the remaining ISS Expedition members.

This departure represents the first medical evacuation in the ISS’s 25-year history. NASA announced the decision on January 8, 2026, after monitoring a stable but undisclosed medical issue with one crew member that emerged around January 7. The condition prompted the cancellation of a planned spacewalk (USA EVA-94) and an early end to the mission, originally expected to conclude closer to the arrival of the incoming Crew-12 mission in mid-February.

Crew-11 launched on August 1, 2025, aboard the Endeavour capsule, docking with the ISS the following day. During their approximately five-month stay, the astronauts conducted scientific research, technology demonstrations, and station maintenance as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

The autonomous undocking initiated the crew’s return journey, with the Dragon spacecraft using its Draco thrusters to maneuver away from the orbital complex. NASA and SpaceX teams monitored spacecraft systems, reporting nominal performance in propulsion, power, and telemetry post-undocking.Splashdown is targeted for approximately 3:41 a.m. EST on January 15, 2026, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, assisted by parachutes for a soft water landing.

NASA planned live coverage of the deorbit burn, atmospheric entry, and splashdown phases, with a post-landing press conference scheduled shortly thereafter. The remaining ISS crew will continue operations until Crew-12 arrives. All four Crew-11 members are reported stable as they head home.

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