A NASA astronaut is currently under medical observation following the delayed return of a four-person crew from the International Space Station (ISS) early Friday morning.
The crew, which included NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, made a successful splashdown off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, around 3:30 a.m. ET.
According to Fox News, all four astronauts were transported to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola in Florida for medical evaluation post-splashdown. However, one astronaut, whose identity NASA has chosen not to disclose, remains in the hospital in stable condition due to an unspecified "medical issue." The space agency has stated, "To protect the crew members medical privacy, specific details on the individuals condition or identity will not be shared."
The remaining three astronauts have since returned to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Their SpaceX Dragon capsule, which undocked from the ISS on Wednesday evening, experienced a standard reentry into the Earths atmosphere, and the landing was "without incident," according to NASA. The agency expressed gratitude to Ascension Sacred Heart for its support during this time and commended its team for its swift action in ensuring the safety of the crew members.
The astronauts had spent an extended eight months on the ISS, two months longer than the typical six-month mission. It is not uncommon for astronauts to require several days or even weeks to readjust to gravity after living on the space station. Despite the medical issue, a NASA official assured reporters during a Friday press conference that "the crew is doing great."
The crew's return was delayed due to both Hurricane Helene and issues with the Boeing Starliner, which returned to Earth last month without its crew. The Boeing Starliner crew is expected to remain at the ISS until February, returning home in a SpaceX capsule that launched last month with two vacant seats. Astronauts Wimore and Williams, who were initially expected to stay for a week, will also extend their stay at the ISS to eight months.
Login