Nasa Crew-8 astronaut hospitalised after returning from space is safe

After Nasa's SpaceX Crew-8 mission safely splashed down on Earth on Friday, one of the four astronauts developed a medical issue.

In Short

• Astronaut experienced health issues upon return from space
• Three other Crew-8 members released after initial examination
• Nasa's Crew-8 astronauts spent 233 days on International Space Station

A Nasa Crew-8 astronaut, who was admitted to a hospital in Florida after returning from the International Space Station (ISS), has been released as per a statement by the American space agency.

After Nasa’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission safely splashed down on Earth on Friday, one of the four astronauts developed a medical issue. However, the space agency has not revealed as to which one of the four astronauts was hospitalised.

Crew-8 members Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin splashed down on Earth after spending over seven months on the Space Station.

"After an overnight stay at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola in Florida, our Nasa astronaut was released and returned to Nasa’s Johnson Space Center in Houston today", the space agency informed through a post on X late on Saturday.

"The crew member is in good health and will resume normal post-flight reconditioning with other crew members", it added.

Nasa said that specific details about the individual’s condition and identity will not be shared to protect the crew member’s medical privacy.

On Friday, Nasa had said that three of the crew members, after medical evaluation at the hospital, departed Pensacola and reached Johnson Space Center in Houston, while the one astronaut who remained at Ascension was in stable condition under observation as a precautionary measure.

Nasa's SpaceX Crew-8 mission successfully splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico early on October 25, 2024, concluding a remarkable 233-day stay aboard the ISS.

The Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour, returned home with a crew of four astronauts after an extended mission that showcased significant scientific research and international collaboration.

The mission was initially planned for a shorter duration but was extended due to delays with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which required additional crew support for emergency evacuation.

During their time on the ISS, the Crew-8 astronauts conducted over 200 experiments in various fields, including human health, materials science, and agriculture. Their work aimed to advance knowledge essential for future long-duration space missions and to benefit life on Earth.

The mission, which took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at Launch Complex 39A on March 4, saw a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propel the spacecraft into orbit. This event marked the eighth commercial crew rotation mission to the ISS.