Four astronauts splashed down to Earth on Sunday after an unexpected medical evacuation from the International Space Station (ISS). Crew members Oleg Platonov, Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and Kimiya Yui lived and worked in space for five extraordinary months. They were then on their way home aboard the Endeavour capsule.
The Endeavour capsule undocked from the ISS at 9:20 am AEDT (2220 GMT), beginning their descent to Earth. All four astronauts were tightly belted into their crew seats, wearing the same custom-built white space suits and helmet that they will use for re-entry. Their return was overshadowed by a sudden health crisis that required an early return to the space station.
Journey Back to Earth
The crew flight lifted to orbit from Florida in August, with the expectation of an even longer mission length impact. That health concern pushed mission control to bring them home early. The whole trip was a little less than 11 hours. The Crew Dragon spacecraft splashed down safely under parachutes in the start ocean off the coast of San Diego.
Once the Endeavour capsule splashed down, recovery teams quickly moved in to provide for the astronauts in a timely manner. Once the capsule was safely aboard the recovery ship, they came out from the capsule one by one. This precise and meticulous preparation made sure the astronauts were safely retrieved.
“Obviously, we took this action (early return) because it was a serious medical condition,” – Jared Isaacman
Crew Composition
The crew’s melting pot of engineers and artists form an international super team of daring nationalities and technological genius. Oleg Platonov is the career Russian cosmonaut whose early support helped make the Shuttle-Mir program happen. All of these astronauts call their countries home Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, astronauts representing the United States, and Kimiya Yui, representing Japan. Their work together is a poignant reminder of the power and necessity of international collaboration in space.
The astronauts’ mission was to conduct scientific research and advanced experiments in order to further knowledge in fields, including health, agriculture and sustainability. Even with the surprise medical evacuation, they each made important contributions in their five months on board the ISS!
Future Implications
This medical evacuation highlights the difficulties that will need to be addressed in support of long-duration missions in space. Both a celebration and haunting memorial, it reminds the viewer of the risks that monitoring human health and preventive measures in space exploration can help avoid. Ultimately, the crew decided to come back early. In doing so, they put their own safety first, signaling their dedication to the health and safety of astronauts.
From the Moon to Mars and innumerable worlds in-between, space agencies across the globe are continuing to push the frontiers of exploration. The lessons it taught will be critical in informing what’s next. The successful return of Platonov, Fincke, Cardman, and Yui confirms that even in unexpected circumstances, cooperation and preparation can lead to safe outcomes.
