ISS Medevac Exposes Medical Gaps

The International Space Station will conduct its first medical evacuation in 25 years after an astronaut developed a serious but unspecified condition linked to prolonged microgravity. NASA and SpaceX are coordinating a controlled return on Crew‑11; the event highlights limits in on‑orbit diagnostics, evacuation timelines, privacy vs public need, and reliance on commercial crew for urgent medical return. — This raises immediate policy questions about astronaut medical protocols, on‑orbit diagnostic and treatment capability, emergency evacuation planning for lunar/Mars missions, and how much authority and responsibility commercial providers should hold.