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ISS astronaut medical evacuation latest news: Crew-11 astronauts prepare for SpaceX Dragon departure
Space.com ^ | Jan 13, 2026 | By Mike Wall, Tariq Malik, Josh Dinner

Posted on 01/14/2026 4:07:41 AM PST by Ezekiel

>>>

The four astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) are officially "go" to return to Earth on Wednesday (Jan. 14).

>>>

Undocking is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. EST (2205 GMT) on Wednesday, with splashdown expected less than 11 hours later. And it looks like Mother Nature will cooperate with this plan.

"Weather is looking excellent for Dragon’s parachute-assisted splashdown off the coast of California at 3:41 a.m. [EST] on Thursday," NASA officials wrote in the update.

(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...


TOPICS: Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: crew11; elonmusk; fourweeksearly; iss; nasa; spacex
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1 posted on 01/14/2026 4:07:41 AM PST by Ezekiel
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To: Ezekiel

The Russian likely infected them all with terminal chlamydia.


2 posted on 01/14/2026 4:26:17 AM PST by Candor7 (Ask not for whom the Trump Trolls,He trolls for thee!<img src="" width=500</img><a href="">tag</a>) )
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To: Ezekiel

Only “usually reliable rumors” I’ve read anywhere are about one of the crew developing “space madness” and smearing her feces all over the inside of the space station.

That’s the only kind of “medical emergency” — a psychiatric one — that I can see delaying a return for over a week, as it has been at least this long since the “emergency” was first announced.

Anyone else?


3 posted on 01/14/2026 4:31:03 AM PST by normbal (normbal. Non-native Tennessean.)
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To: Ezekiel

What would NASA do without Elon! Space X to the rescue again.


4 posted on 01/14/2026 4:34:15 AM PST by Lockbox (politicians, they all seemed like game show host to me.... Sting)
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To: Candor7

Lol


5 posted on 01/14/2026 4:39:25 AM PST by Track9 (Liberal tears make me smile. Thank you DJT!)
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To: Lockbox

Some lefties on a forum I’m on were going on about a recent Blue Origin launch. They didn’t like it one bit when I pointed out that Blue Origin is damn near totally inconsequential when compared to SpaceX.

And my godson (college roommate’s son) is going to work for them full time after an internship. He was going to get a masters degree, but they said “you need to come to work for us now”, so he said OK. His work experience will be beyond masters level.


6 posted on 01/14/2026 4:46:20 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: normbal

The “feces” story was hilarious—even if totally false.


7 posted on 01/14/2026 4:50:37 AM PST by cgbg ("Your identity is how power treats you.")
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To: Ezekiel

So all four are coming back for a medical issue with one of them, three of them, two of them...?

Maybe this isn’t really about a medical issue...?


8 posted on 01/14/2026 4:53:13 AM PST by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away! 🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿)
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To: FreedomPoster

A masters degree? Work is always a better teacher than sitting in a class room. Most of the world teaches people far faster than we do. There is no reason to get a masters degree other than padding the resume and delaying adulthood.


9 posted on 01/14/2026 4:55:52 AM PST by poinq (thics and customs and did not take an oath to the country. And did not follow the country's traditio)
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To: poinq

In many cases I would agree, but STEM can be a little different. He would learn useful things in the masters program he is foregoing. He would learn more/better useful things at SpaceX.


10 posted on 01/14/2026 4:59:28 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: Ezekiel; All

https://nextspaceflight.com/

For those interested.


11 posted on 01/14/2026 5:02:30 AM PST by PGalt (Past Peak Civilization?)
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To: Ezekiel

She’s Pregnant!


12 posted on 01/14/2026 5:23:41 AM PST by microgood
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To: poinq
Work is always a better teacher than sitting in a class room.

Depends entirely on the field of work.

13 posted on 01/14/2026 5:25:15 AM PST by GingisK
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To: normbal

Maybe somebody is pregnant.
Space baby.


14 posted on 01/14/2026 5:26:11 AM PST by Doctor Congo
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To: mewzilla

“So all four are coming back for a medical issue with one of them, three of them, two of them...?

Maybe this isn’t really about a medical issue...?”

That is the first question I asked myself. I think the medical issue excuse is a cover and I have no idea what the real reason is about.


15 posted on 01/14/2026 5:29:26 AM PST by odawg
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To: Lockbox

The touchdowns in the ocean are spectacular...Seems so yesterday but it’s apparently the safest way. And the precautions taking them out of the capsule...mesmerizing.


16 posted on 01/14/2026 5:29:31 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: Doctor Congo

“Close Encounters” of an inter-species kind?


17 posted on 01/14/2026 5:36:35 AM PST by lee martell
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To: normbal

I was going to ask why all of the crew had to return together instead of just the one who was medically unfit to continue. Now I wonder if the rest have to accompany them back to keep them from creating havoc on the return flight?


18 posted on 01/14/2026 5:46:59 AM PST by desertsolitaire (hite sea. My grandfather shouted warning to anyone who would listen that the Titanic was going to st)
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To: Ezekiel

Can you imagine being in space with a psychotic woman? I hope they have straight jackets. I’m betting she’s pregnant. The makers of the abortion pills didn’t think about zero gravity when producing their products.


19 posted on 01/14/2026 5:59:52 AM PST by DownInFlames (P)
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To: Ezekiel
One reason is which crew has the more significant mission?

Another reason four have to come back is the number of seats available in a capsule docked with the ISS. Take one capsule away and that diminishes the backup capabilities to evacuate the others if necessary.

20 posted on 01/14/2026 6:17:41 AM PST by pfflier
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