Astronauts Finke, Cardman, Yui, and Platonov have been stationed on the International Space Station (ISS) since early August, with plans originally extending until late February.
However, following an incident, NASA executives and the agency’s medical director decided to bring the astronauts back to Earth one week early.
Finke stated, “After a thorough evaluation, NASA has concluded that the safest decision is to return Crew-11 early. It is not an emergency; rather, it is a crafted plan to utilize advanced medical imaging technology not accessible on the space station.”
The Crew-11 astronauts departed the ISS on January 14, undocking from the space station in the same SpaceX Dragon capsule that initially transported them. Following an 11-hour journey, the capsule landed in the Pacific Ocean off the San Diego coast during the early morning hours on January 15.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman remarked in a post-landing news conference that while there were “serious conditions” in orbit, the crew has remained safe and stable since the incident.
Finke expressed gratitude towards his Crew-11 teammates, including NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Russian cosmonauts Sergei Kud Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev. He also acknowledged the instrumental support from the teams at NASA, SpaceX, and medical professionals at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.
“Their professionalism and commitment undoubtedly led to positive outcomes,” he added.
Finke concluded by sharing that he is “doing very well” and is engaging in standard post-flight repair work at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
“Spaceflight is an incredible privilege that humbles our humanity,” he said. “Thank you for your continued support.”
Source: www.nbcnews.com
