What Happens if There’s a Medical Emergency on the International Space Station
If an astronaut has a medical emergency on board the International Space Station (ISS), there are established procedures to ensure their safety. Crew members receive extensive medical training before flight and have basic medical supplies and equipment on the station to handle common illnesses and injuries. They are also supported by flight surgeons on the ground who monitor their health and provide guidance through telemedicine whenever needed. If a condition is serious and cannot be fully treated in orbit, NASA can bring the affected astronaut back to Earth early in a docked spacecraft such as a SpaceX Crew Dragon or Soyuz capsule so they can receive advanced care on the ground. In January 2026, NASA carried out the first early medical evacuation from the ISS after a crew member developed a health concern that required treatment on Earth. This marked a rare use of emergency return procedures prioritising astronaut health
