WASHINGTON, United States, Jan 10, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - NASA crewmembers aboard the International Space Station (ISS) could return to Earth as soon as Thursday, the US space agency said, after a medical emergency prompted the crew to return from their mission early. "NASA and SpaceX target undocking Crew-11 from the International Space Station no earlier than 5pm ET on Jan. 14, with splashdown off California targeted for early Jan. 15 depending on weather and recovery conditions," the agency said in a post on X. These expeditions generally last around six months, and the crew was already due to return to Earth in the coming weeks. Officials indicated it was possible the next US mission could depart to the ISS earlier than scheduled, but did not provide specifics. Continuously inhabited since 2000, the ISS functions as a testbed for research that supports deeper space exploration -- including eventual missions to Mars.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha January 10, 2026 15:15 UTC