Portable Ultrasound Linked to First ISS Medical Evacuation

Four astronauts aboard the ISS returned to Earth early due to a medical concern—the first medical evacuation in the station’s 25-year history. NASA has kept details private, but astronaut Mike Fincke said a portable ultrasound helped identify the issue, and the crew was evacuated to Scripps Memorial Hospital for evaluation before being released. The others involved were Zena Cardman, Kimiya Yui, and Oleg Platonov. The incident tests NASA’s emergency response ahead of longer missions like Artemis II, with officials signaling no immediate disclosures about the diagnosis.