NASA Astronaut Hospitalised After Extended ISS Mission Return
NASA astronaut hospitalised due to an unspecified medical condition soon after returning from an extended mission on the International Space Station (ISS), NASA confirmed on Friday. The astronaut, who remains unnamed for privacy reasons, was flown to a hospital in Pensacola, Florida, after safely landing off Florida’s coast in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule.
Crew’s Extended ISS Mission
The astronaut, alongside US crewmates Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, returned to Earth after 235 days in orbit, a longer-than-usual ISS mission duration. Their time on the ISS surpassed the typical six-month stay, setting a record for the longest mission completed by SpaceX’s reusable Crew Dragon spacecraft. Crew Dragon successfully undocked from the ISS on Wednesday afternoon and re-entered Earth’s atmosphere early Friday, deploying parachutes before splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico at 3:29 a.m. ET.
Medical Precautions and Hospitalisation
Upon landing, NASA initially transported all four crew members to a medical centre as a precautionary measure. Later updates clarified that only one astronaut required further observation and remains in stable condition at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola hospital. NASA did not disclose further details regarding the nature of the medical issue, citing respect for the astronaut’s privacy. The three other crew members have since left the hospital and returned to Houston.
Grebenkin, the Russian cosmonaut, appeared to be in good health, with Roscosmos sharing a smiling photograph of him on social media, noting that he “feels great” following the journey.
Crew Dragon’s Reliable Performance and Minor Parachute Delays
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft has become NASA’s primary transport to the ISS, marking 44 successful missions. Despite two minor parachute delays observed during re-entry, the spacecraft safely delivered the crew to Earth. The Crew Dragon’s initial set of braking parachutes encountered slight debris strikes, while one of the four main parachutes unfurled slower than expected. However, NASA officials reassured the public that these incidents had no impact on crew safety.
This particular Crew Dragon spacecraft completed its fifth mission, bringing its total time in orbit to 702 days, SpaceX’s flight reliability vice president William Gerstenmaier noted in a news briefing. Ideal weather conditions during splashdown supported a smooth recovery process for the returning crew.
