India, Jan. 16 -- An astronaut in need of doctors' care departed the International Space Station with three crewmates on Wednesday in NASA's first medical evacuation. The four returning astronauts - from the US, Russia and Japan - are aiming for an early Thursday morning splashdown in the Pacific near San Diego with SpaceX. The decision cuts short their mission by over a month.

"Our timing of this departure is unexpected," NASA astronaut Zena Cardman said before the return trip, "but what was not surprising to me was how well this crew came together as a family to help each other and just take care of each other." Officials refused to identify the astronaut who needed care last week and would not divulge the

health concerns. The ailing ...