WASHINGTON, Jan 9 (Kyodo/APP): Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui and three fellow astronauts will return to Earth from the International Space Station earlier than scheduled due to a medical situation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said Thursday.
NASA did not identify which astronaut requires medical care, citing the need to maintain privacy, but said at a press conference the person is in a stable condition.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency told Kyodo News that Yui, the only Japanese among the returning astronauts, has no health issues. Yui made a post on social media in the hours before the NASA press conference, but did not reference the situation.
It is the first time NASA has moved up a crew’s return for a medical reason in the 25-year history of the ISS, the organization said, adding it was not an emergency evacuation.
The four have been at the ISS for about five months. Astronauts usually stay on the ISS for six to eight months.
One of the astronauts expressed medical concerns on Wednesday, prompting NASA to cancel the next day’s scheduled activities outside the spacecraft.
NASA said concern is heightened due to the medical issue occurring in a microgravity environment, and it determined it would be best for the astronaut to undergo checkup on Earth.
The astronauts will leave the ISS aboard a SpaceX spacecraft in the next few days, it said.
The four astronauts, including two Americans and one Russian, flew to the ISS aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft that lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida in August to conduct science experiments.
Despite their stay being reduced, NASA indicated the crew members have nearly completed all their tasks.
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