Depending on the timing, NASA could launch a fresh crew to the space station while four other astronauts are flying around the moon.

With its departure ahead of Crew-12's arrival, Crew-11 leaves behind a skeleton crew of three aboard the ISS, including Kud-Sverchov and fellow cosmonaut Sergei Mikaev as well as NASA astronaut Chris Williams. Crew-12 is currently scheduled to launch no earlier than Feb. 15.

The International Space Station has gone from seven crew members down to a "skeleton crew" of three due to a recent medical evacuation.

The members of Crew-11 — two American, one Russian and one Japanese — splashed down after one became ill, prompting an early return.

Four people from NASA's Crew-11 mission splashed down off San Diego, successfully completing five months aboard the International Space Station. The trip was cut short due to a medical issue.

An astronaut in need of medical care is on the way back to Earth. The ailing astronaut departed the International Space Station with three crewmates on Wednesday.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission returned safely to Earth after 167 days in orbit, completing hundreds of hours of research aboard the International Space Station.

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim captured dramatic views of a hurricane from the International Space Station using a Nikon Z9 camera. Around the same time, NOAA’s GOES-East satellite also recorded stunning imagery of the storm.