Ailing Astronaut Returns Early in NASA's First Medical Space Evacuation

• An ailing astronaut and three crewmates returned to Earth early from the International Space Station in NASA's first medical evacuation.
• The SpaceX capsule splashed down in the Pacific near San Diego, with astronauts immediately taken to a hospital for medical checks.
• NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman confirmed a serious medical condition prompted the early return, but the astronaut is stable and in good spirits.
• The mission's early end leaves only one American and two Russians on the ISS; NASA plans to accelerate the next crew launch.
• This marks NASA's first spaceflight cut short for medical reasons, though the astronaut's condition was not an emergency.

Why It Matters: NASA conducted its first medical evacuation from space, bringing an ailing astronaut and crew back early for care.