NASA, SpaceX Set January 14 Target for Early Return of ISS Crew‑11

Addis Ababa, January 10, 2026 (FMC) – NASA and SpaceX have scheduled no earlier than 5 p.m. EST on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, for the undocking and return of the Crew‑11 mission from the International Space Station, pending favorable weather and operational conditions.

The early return comes after NASA announced that the crew would come home sooner than initially planned due to a medical concern involving one of the astronauts, who is reported to be stable. NASA has not disclosed further details out of respect for privacy.

Crew‑11 includes NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. If the plan proceeds as scheduled, the SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying the crew is expected to splash down off California’s coast at about 3:40 a.m. EST on Thursday, January 15.

Mission managers said that recovery timing and location will be finalized closer to the operation, based on sea conditions, weather, and spacecraft readiness. NASA and SpaceX emphasized that crew safety remains the top priority as preparations continue, according to a report from Reuters.