NASA cancels ISS spacewalk after astronaut's sudden medical emergency

A planned spacewalk outside the International Space Station was abruptly cancelled on Wednesday. NASA halted the operation due to an unspecified medical issue involving one of the crew members. The agency has not disclosed the astronaut's identity or the nature of the problem, citing privacy reasons.

The spacewalk had been scheduled for Thursday, with Crew 11 commander Mike Fincke and flight engineer Zena Cardman set to complete work on a truss structure and perform maintenance. A second spacewalk was also planned for the following week, but the first was called off early on Wednesday.

The affected crew member is reported to be in stable condition. NASA is now reviewing all possible responses, including the option of ending Crew 11's mission ahead of schedule. This follows an earlier incident in January 2026, when the same crew returned nearly a month before their planned eight-month stay due to a separate medical concern.

No further details about the astronauts' external tasks have been released. The current crew includes Fincke, Cardman, Kimiya Yui, and Oleg Platonov.

The cancellation marks the second time medical issues have disrupted Crew 11's mission timeline. NASA continues to assess the situation while prioritising the health of the astronauts. Further updates on the mission's status are expected in the coming days.