Early Thursday morning (January 15), SpaceX’s Crew-11 mission made a successful return to Earth, splashing down off the coast of California after spending 167 days in orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The crew comprised four members: Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke. They had to perform an early mission termination — marking the first medical evacuation in ISS history.
The Crew Dragon capsule, Endeavour, landed in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego around 3:41 am EST, wrapping up a secure re-entry and a parachute-assisted landing following an approximately 11-hour descent from orbit. Recovery teams began post-splashdown operations immediately after securing the capsule.
NASA announced the crew’s return via X, stating, “Welcome home, Crew-11! At 3:41 am ET (0841 UTC), the @SpaceX Dragon spacecraft splashed down off the coast of San Diego, California.”
Welcome home, Crew-11! At 3:41am ET (0841 UTC), the @SpaceX Dragon spacecraft splashed down off the coast of San Diego, California. pic.twitter.com/8LFpdKwizc
— NASA (@NASA) January 15, 2026
The mission, initially scheduled to operate on the ISS until mid-February 2026, was cut short by over a month due to an undisclosed medical condition affecting one crew member. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman confirmed the mission’s early termination during a press conference.
NASA and its partners emphasized that the astronaut remained stable in orbit and returned for more comprehensive examination and treatment, though they have not disclosed the identity or specifics of the health issue due to privacy considerations.
The Crew Dragon undocked from the space station on January 14 at approximately 5:20 pm EST, leading to expedited departure protocols and the postponement of a planned spacewalk. NASA is said to have provided live coverage of the undocking via its YouTube channel, NASA+, and on Amazon Prime.
This flight marked Commander Zena Cardman’s inaugural journey into space, while Mike Fincke completed his fourth mission. Oleg Platonov also experienced his first spaceflight, and Kimiya Yui logged his second extended mission in orbit. Throughout their time in space, the crew executed numerous scientific experiments covering areas from bone-loss studies to tissue growth in microgravity.
NASA officials noted that the splashdown not only successfully fulfilled Crew-11’s scientific goals but also demonstrated the resilience of commercial crew missions when facing unexpected challenges. Until Crew-12 arrives in mid-February, the ISS will operate with a smaller crew.
