A crew of four NASA astronauts were hospitalized without explanation after returning from a lengthy mission in space.
The Crew-8 astronauts, who had spent more than 200 days in orbit, splashed down safely off the coast of Florida in the early hours of October 25.
Crew-8 launched to the ISS on March 3, initially planning for a six-month stay. However, a series of delays extended their mission to 235 days, one of the longest recent ISS stays.
During the splashdown of Crew-8, observers noted a delay in one of the Dragon capsule’s four main parachutes, which opened slower than the others – a phenomenon SpaceX has referred to as “lagging behavior.”
According to SpaceNews, this behavior, while not entirely unusual, has nonetheless drawn scrutiny as SpaceX and NASA look to ensure a smooth re-entry process for returning astronauts.
While NASA initially reported that only one astronaut required medical attention, it was later confirmed that the entire crew was taken to the hospital for further observation.
The astronauts in question are Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin.
One astronaut was reportedly held overnight “in stable condition under observation as a precautionary measure.”
However, NASA has yet to disclose the reasons behind the hospitalization, leaving many questions unanswered about the crew’s health following their extended stay in space and their return to Earth.
The unexplained medical episode has drawn NASA’s attention to SpaceX’s crew safety protocols, particularly as the company ramps up its mission schedule.
During an October 31 meeting of NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, former astronaut and panel member Kent Rominger expressed concerns over a string of recent technical issues with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets and Dragon spacecraft, which carry NASA astronauts to and from the ISS, per the Daily Mail.
“These mishaps serve as a reminder to remain vigilant as [SpaceX] increases the pace of its missions,” Rominger stated, emphasizing the need for both SpaceX and NASA to prioritize safety.
“Both NASA and SpaceX need to maintain focus on safe Crew Dragon operations and not take any ‘normal’ operations for granted.”
SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, has been a key NASA partner in commercial spaceflight, providing regular crew and cargo transport to the ISS.
The company has launched over 100 rockets this year and aims to reach 148 launches by year’s end, surpassing its record of 98 launches in 2023. Y
et, some safety advocates worry that SpaceX’s fast-paced schedule could come at a cost to astronaut safety.
Rominger emphasized the need for both NASA and SpaceX to “guard against letting the high pace of operations from clouding their judgment” to ensure that each mission receives the appropriate level of attention, time, and resources.
