NASA cancels ISS spacewalk due to astronaut's medical emergency

A planned spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) was abruptly called off on Thursday. NASA cited an unspecified medical issue affecting one of the crew members. The agency has not disclosed the astronaut's identity or the nature of the problem, referring only to privacy concerns.

The decision has raised questions about the future of Crew 11's mission, which launched on 1 August and was originally set to run until mid-February.

Crew 11—comprising NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, JAXA's Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov—had been scheduled for a standard six-month stay. Their return was initially planned for around 20 February, with a handover to Crew 12. However, the medical issue has forced NASA to consider an early end to their mission.

The cancelled spacewalk was meant to complete construction on a truss structure and perform routine maintenance. A second spacewalk, planned for next week, now remains uncertain. While NASA has not detailed the specific tasks disrupted, typical ISS operations include scientific research, equipment upkeep, and experiments.

By mid-January 2026, the crew returned to Earth ahead of schedule. NASA confirmed the affected astronaut was in stable condition but continued to assess all options, including further adjustments to the mission timeline.

The early return of Crew 11 marks a rare interruption to ISS operations. NASA's focus remains on the health of its astronauts while evaluating the impact on upcoming missions. Further updates are expected once the medical situation is resolved.