On January 14, 2026, NASA and SpaceX confirmed the successful undocking of the Dragon Endeavour spacecraft, concluding the SpaceX Crew-11 mission. The crew departed the International Space Station (ISS) in the evening, with a planned splashdown off the coast of California scheduled for the early hours of January 15.
The hatch of the Dragon Endeavour was closed at 3:29 p.m. EST (2029 UTC), marking the start of final preparations for undocking. Crew-11 commander Zena Cardman, pilot Mike Fincke, and mission specialists Kimiya Yui from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Oleg Platonov bid farewell to their colleagues aboard the ISS. Fincke reflected on their shared experience, stating, “What an adventure we’ve had together. I think what I’m going to remember most is the camaraderie we’ve had across the planet that’s really symbolic of 25 years of continuous habitation aboard the space station, which is a feat of engineering and a feat of diplomacy.”
This mission marked the first spaceflight for both Platonov and Cardman. Cardman expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the ISS program, emphasizing its significance as a symbol of international cooperation. The crew completed their final checks and undocked from the ISS at 5:20 p.m. EST (2220 UTC), initiating a journey home that is expected to last approximately 10.5 hours.
The Crew-11 mission was originally planned to conclude later in February, allowing for a direct handover with the incoming SpaceX Crew-12. However, a serious medical concern involving one of the crew members prompted NASA to expedite their return for proper diagnosis and treatment. This early conclusion was classified as a “medical evacuation” rather than an “emergency return,” marking a significant milestone as the first time an American-led human spaceflight mission has ended prematurely due to medical issues.
Prior to their departure, Fincke transferred command of the ISS to Sergey Kud-Sverchkov of Roscosmos in a brief ceremony. Kud-Sverchkov, along with fellow cosmonaut Sergey Mikayev and NASA astronaut Chris Williams, will remain on the station until the arrival of Crew-12, which is currently scheduled for launch on February 15.
In a message shared on social media, Yui captured a final view of Japan from space, noting the beauty of Mount Fuji as they passed overhead. He expressed gratitude for the experience, stating, “This is my final glimpse of Mount Fuji from space and daytime Japan! Thank you for the magnificent view!”
NASA is also looking to accelerate the launch date of Crew-12, which is set to occur close to the upcoming Artemis 2 Moon mission, tentatively scheduled for February 6. This mission will represent the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft since 1972.
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