NASA astronaut hands ISS command over to Russian cosmonaut

Updated: Jan 12, 2026 / 02:10 PM CST

FILE – This undated photo released by the Roscosmos State Space Corporation shows the International Space Station (ISS). Russia’s Roscosmos state corporation on Wednesday reported an air leak in the Russian segment of the International Space Station, but said it posed no threat to its crew. (Roscosmos State Space Corporation via AP, File)

(NewsNation) — Crew-11 will be departing the International Space Station early due to an unspecified medical issue, with command of the ISS changing to Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov.

The crew exchanged farewell messages with their fellow crew, expressing gratitude to each other and sorrow that the mission was being cut short.

After command was handed over to Kud-Sverchkov, the astronauts had a group hug before Kud-Sverchkov thanked those on Earth for supporting the ISS.

NASA is bringing astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov home, with the crew set to depart the ISS on Wednesday and splash down off the California coast in the early morning hours Thursday.

The crew is returning home earlier than planned to monitor a medical concern with a crew member. For privacy reasons, NASA has not disclosed the medical concerns or the crew member being monitored.

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