A NASA astronaut was still in the hospital on Friday evening after a four-person crew from the International Space Station arrived late in the morning.
Around 3:30 a.m. ET Friday, the crew of NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin splashed down off the coast of Pensacola, Florida.
All four astronauts were flown to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola in Florida together after splashdown for medical checks. NASA said in a Friday update that one astronaut is still missing.
NASA did not say the name of the last astronaut, but they said they are in stable condition and being watched out of caution because of a “medical issue.”
“To protect the crew member’s medical privacy, specific details on the individual’s condition or identity will not be shared,” the agency said.
The other three have gone back to Houston’s NASA Johnson Space Center.
As the astronauts’ SpaceX Dragon capsule separated from the space station Wednesday night, it reentered the Earth’s atmosphere normally and landed “without incident,” according to NASA.
“We’re grateful to Ascension Sacred Heart for its support during this time, and we are proud of our team for its quick action to ensure the safety of our crew members,” the agency said.
It took two months longer than planned, but the astronauts stayed on the space station for eight months. Most missions to the ISS last for six months.
It can take astronauts days or even weeks to get used to being back on Earth after living on the space station.
According to a NASA official, “the crew is doing great” at a press conference on Friday after splashdown. The official did not mention any health problems.
Hurricane Helene and problems with the Boeing Starliner both caused delays for the crew. The ship finally came back to Earth last month without its crew.
The crew of the Boeing Starliner will stay at the space station until February. They will return home in a SpaceX capsule that launched last month with two empty seats.
The first plan was for Wimore and Williams to stay for one week, but they will now stay for eight months.