Thread | Brutkey

Station Commander Mike Fincke and Flight Engineer Zena Cardman were scheduled to conduct their mission’s first spacewalk at 8 a.m. EST today. The duo’s primary task during the 6.5 hour spacewalk was to install a modification kit and routing cables for a future roll-out solar array. Secondary tasks included installing jumper cables, taking hardware photos, and collecting microorganism samples.

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/01/07/expedition-74-ready-for-thursday-spacewalk-and-continuing-research/
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Graphic for spacewalk 94 from NASA with pics of Station Commander Mike Fincke and Flight Engineer Zena Cardman.

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At a press conference this evening, NASA leadership announced its decision to bring Crew 11 home early due to the medical situation with one of the crew members. Date TBD.

https://www.youtube.com/live/ffcV3jCwwPk
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/commercialcrew/2026/01/08/nasa-shares-latest-update-on-international-space-station-operations/
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NASA has set a target date for the ISS Crew-11’s early return to earth.
Undocking: 5 p.m. EST, Wednesday, Jan. 14
Splashdown: 3:40 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, off the coast of CA
Crew: NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/01/09/nasa-spacex-set-target-date-for-crew-11s-return-to-earth/
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Post on LinkedIn by Commander Mike Fincke -
"As many of you have heard, our crew will be coming home just a few weeks earlier than planned due to an unexpected medical issue.

First and foremost, we are all OK. Everyone on board is stable, safe, and well cared for. This was a deliberate decision to allow the right medical evaluations to happen on the ground, where the full range of diagnostic capability exists. It’s the right call, even if it’s a bit bittersweet."

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7416022070469378048/
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Post by E. Michael Fincke
As many of you have heard, our crew will be coming home just a few weeks earlier than planned due to an unexpected medical issue.
First and foremost, we are all OK. Everyone on board is stable, safe, and well cared for. This was a deliberate decision to allow the right medical evaluations to happen on the ground, where the full range of diagnostic capability exists. It’s the right call, even if it’s a bit bittersweet.
This photo was taken as we prepared our space suits for return—a normal, methodical step in getting ready to come home, and a reminder that this decision was made calmly and carefully, with people at the center.
What stands out most to me is how clearly NASA cares about its people. Flight surgeons, engineers, managers, and support teams came together quickly and professionally to chart the best path forward. The ground teams—across mission control centers and partner organizations around the world—have been extraordinary. We’re proud of the joint work we’ve done and the camaraderie we’ve shared, including some great songs and more than a few dad jokes.
...
We’re leaving the ISS in great hands. The 3 crewmates who arrived in November will continue the mission, and they’ll be joined by Crew-12 in just a few weeks. Explore 74!
We’re grateful for the teamwork, proud of the mission, and looking forward to coming home soon—back to our loved ones and to resolving any medical questions with the best care available.
— Ad Astra per Aspera!

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NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov have departed the International Space Station aboard the Crew-11 Dragon spacecraft.

Splash down off the coast of San Diego at 3:41 a.m. EST tomorrow morning.

Video of the undocking sequence an hour ago - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IakRgsTYUDY
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