Four astronauts aboard the International Space Station will return to Earth more than a month earlier than planned after one crew member experienced a medical issue, NASA said.
The agency has not disclosed details about the condition, citing medical privacy, but confirmed the astronaut is stable and does not require special care during the return.
The returning astronauts are part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission. The flight was originally scheduled to end no earlier than next month, and such an early return is unusual, as crews typically remain aboard the station until a replacement team arrives.
In the past five decades, fewer than 700 astronauts have flown into space. And from a young age, we are subjected to ideas of glory and gain when we think of what it would be like to become one of them. But here’s the truth: not only does it require a tremendous amount of professional training, but it also has a monumental impact on the human body.
Curious? Click through this gallery to find out how your body would react in zero gravity.