Kathmandu. NASA has repatriated four astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) after undergoing medical evacuation procedures for the first time in history. On Wednesday, three crew members, including an ill astronaut, departed the ISS.

The four astronauts from the United States, Russia and Japan are aboard a SpaceX capsule aboard a SpaceX capsule for a safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego on Thursday morning. According to NASA, their mission was shortened by more than a month due to this decision.

NASA astronaut Jenna Cardman said before the return flight, “Although the timing of our departure was unexpected, it was inspiring to see this crew come together as a family, careing for each other. ”

Officials said they did not release details about the identity or condition of the astronaut because of medical confidentiality. Outgoing station commander Mike Finke said on social media that the astronaut was “stable, safe and in excellent care”. According to him, this decision has been taken as it would be appropriate to conduct detailed medical evaluation on earth.

Cardman, Finke, Japan’s Kimia Yui and Russia’s Oleg Platonov, who launched in August, were due to remain on the station until the end of February. But on January 7, NASA abruptly canceled the spacewalk and announced that the crew would return soon. NASA said the health issue was not an emergency or related to the station’s operations.

NASA said routine entry and splashdown procedures will be followed by SpaceX’s mission, and a crew of doctors will be on standby on board the Pacific Ocean recovery ship. After landing, the four astronauts will fly from California to the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

There will be one American and two Russian astronauts on the ISS. NASA and SpaceX are preparing to launch a new four-member crew from Florida in mid-February.

Although computer modelling suggests that medical evacuation may be required every three years, this is the first time NASA has taken such a step in the 65-year history of human spaceflight. In 1985, Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Vasyutin returned early from the Salyut-7 station because of health problems.

The medical evacuation is the first major decision of NASA’s new administrator Jared Isaacman. “The health and well-being of our astronauts will always be our top priority. ”

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