New Delhi: NASA postponed the scheduled spacewalk on Thursday, 8 January 2026, citing health concerns of one of its astronauts. The decision followed the emergence of a medical issue involving a crew member on 7 January, leading to the cancellation of the US EVA 94 spacewalk.
The astronaut’s condition is reported to be stable. However, NASA has not disclosed the name or detailed information about the individual due to medical privacy considerations.
In a blog post, NASA stated, “The spacewalk outside the International Space Station planned for Thursday, 8 January, has been postponed. The agency is closely monitoring the health-related situation of the crew member that arose on Wednesday afternoon inside the orbital complex.”
The post further added, “Due to medical privacy, it is not appropriate for NASA to share additional details about the crew member at this time. The condition remains stable, and NASA will provide further updates later.”
The spacewalk was to be conducted by NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Jenna Cardman, lasting approximately 6.5 hours. The tasks included preparing the ISS 2A power channel for the upcoming ISS Roll-Out Solar Arrays (IRVOSA), collecting swabs in the airlock to detect microbes, and other maintenance work.
For 38-year-old biologist Jenna Cardman, this was to be her first spacewalk since her selection to the astronaut corps in 2017.
NASA is now considering an early conclusion to the Crew-11 mission, originally scheduled to continue until May 2026. Crew-11 comprises Jenna Cardman, Mike Fincke (NASA), Kimia Yui (JAXA), and Oleg Platonov (Roscosmos).
On Wednesday, Fincke and Cardman organised their spacewalking tools and supplies inside the Quest airlock, preparing for the planned exit from the orbital outpost. NASA confirmed that they finished configuring their spacesuits along with life support and emergency equipment.
At the end of their shift, NASA Flight Engineer Chris Williams and JAXA’s Kimia Yui joined them for a final review of the spacewalk procedures and a readiness conference with mission controllers on the ground.
The post noted that Williams and Yui would assist astronauts in donning and doffing their spacesuits, pressurising and depressurising the Quest airlock, and monitoring the spacewalkers during their work outside the orbiting laboratory.
NASA continues to closely observe the situation and will provide further updates as appropriate.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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