US: NASA has called off the first spacewalk of 2026 after a medical issue involving one of the astronauts aboard the International Space Station prompted concern, the space agency confirmed.
The spacewalk, scheduled for January 8, was cancelled after a health issue emerged on Wednesday afternoon. NASA said the astronaut involved is stable but did not disclose the individual’s identity or the nature of the medical condition. The agency said a new date for the spacewalk will be announced later.
Astronauts Mike Fincke, the ISS commander, and Zena Cardman, a flight engineer, were set to carry out the six-and-a-half-hour operation after exiting the station’s Quest airlock early Thursday morning. The mission would have marked Cardman’s first spacewalk and Fincke’s 10th, a milestone that would have tied him with Peggy Whitson for the most spacewalks by a NASA astronaut.
The pair were expected to prepare the station’s 2A power channel for the future installation of a roll-out solar array. The upgrade is part of efforts to maintain the ISS as it enters the final phase of its operational life ahead of its planned de-orbit in 2030.
UPDATE: @NASA is closely monitoring a stable medical situation involving one International Space Station crew member and evaluating all options, including an early Crew-11 return, with further updates expected within 24 hours. https://t.co/va6c2DZUBQ
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) January 8, 2026
Roll-out solar arrays are designed to be lighter, more flexible, and more cost-effective than traditional solar panels, helping to extend the station’s power capacity.
NASA also said it is reviewing whether Crew-11’s mission could end earlier than planned as a precautionary measure. Crew-11 includes Fincke and Cardman, along with Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov and Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yu.
The cancellation could have knock-on effects for another spacewalk scheduled for January 15. That mission was expected to focus on replacing a high-definition camera, installing a new docking aid for visiting spacecraft, and relocating cooling hoses on the station’s exterior. NASA has not yet named the astronauts assigned to that task, and the agency acknowledged that the delay to the first spacewalk may also push back the second. NASA said crew safety remains its top priority and that all options are being carefully evaluated as the situation develops.
