New Astronaut Crew Launches to ISS After Medical Evacuation

NASA replaces astronauts who returned to Earth early in first-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A new crew of astronauts has launched to the International Space Station, replacing the previous crew who were forced to return to Earth early due to a medical emergency. This marks the first time NASA has had to conduct a medical evacuation from the ISS.

Why it matters

Medical emergencies on the International Space Station are extremely rare, as astronauts undergo extensive health screenings and monitoring during their time in space. This incident highlights the importance of having contingency plans in place for unexpected medical situations that may arise during long-duration space missions.

The details

The new crew, consisting of two American astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut, launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Friday. They will join the remaining three crew members already on board the ISS. The previous crew had to return to Earth earlier than planned due to a medical issue with one of the astronauts, though NASA has not provided details on the specific nature of the medical emergency.

  • The new crew launched to the ISS on Friday, February 13, 2026.
  • The previous crew had to return to Earth early due to a medical evacuation.

The players

NASA

The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency responsible for the U.S. civil space program, aeronautics, and space research.

International Space Station (ISS)

A large modular space station in low Earth orbit that serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory, in which crews conduct experiments in biology, human biology, physics, astronomy, meteorology, and other fields.

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What’s next

The new crew will spend several months aboard the International Space Station, conducting scientific experiments and maintaining the orbiting laboratory.

The takeaway

This medical evacuation from the International Space Station underscores the rigorous safety protocols and emergency preparedness measures in place to ensure the health and well-being of astronauts during long-duration space missions.