On Friday, NASA announced that an astronaut was hospitalized due to an unspecified medical concern following their return from a nearly eight-month mission at the space station. This duration was prolonged due to issues with Boeing’s capsule and the impact of Hurricane Milton.
In the early hours before sunrise, a SpaceX capsule with three American astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut descended into the Gulf of Mexico near the Florida coast after separating from the International Space Station earlier in the week.
The capsule was lifted onto the recovery vessel, where the four astronauts underwent standard medical examinations.
Shortly after their splashdown, a NASA astronaut experienced a health concern, prompting the crew to be transported to a hospital in Pensacola, Florida, for further assessment as a precautionary measure, according to a statement from the space agency.
NASA reported that the unnamed astronaut is in stable condition and is staying at the hospital as a precaution.
The space agency announced that it would refrain from disclosing specifics regarding the astronaut’s health, referencing the importance of patient confidentiality.
The remaining three astronauts were released and made their way back to NASA’s Johnson Space Center located in Houston.
After spending several months in a weightless environment, astronauts may require days or even weeks to fully acclimate back to the effects of gravity.
The astronauts were expected to return two months prior, but their arrival was delayed due to issues with Boeing’s new Starliner capsule, which returned without any crew in September due to safety issues. This was compounded by the impact of Hurricane Milton and an additional two weeks of severe winds and turbulent seas.
In March, SpaceX sent four astronauts into space: NASA’s Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, along with Russia’s Alexander Grebenkin. Michael Barratt, the sole experienced astronaut among them, expressed gratitude towards the support teams on Earth who had to adapt and make adjustments alongside them, enabling the crew to navigate various challenges.
The two Starliner test pilots, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, will take their places. Originally slated for an eight-day mission, Williams’ assignment has now extended to eight months. Additionally, two astronauts who were sent into space by SpaceX four weeks ago will also be part of the crew. These four individuals are scheduled to stay in orbit until February.
After several months of having more crew members than usual, the space station has returned to its standard complement of seven astronauts, consisting of four Americans and three Russians.