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We've gotten a look at what 2026's new emoji could be and the big additions? A pickle and a meteor.

The good folks at Emojipedia spotted that Unicode had quietly updated its archives with nine proposed new emoji concepts for September 2026's Emoji 18.0.

Here's the full list of proposed additions, as described by Emojipedia:

• A smiley face with squinting eyes

• A leftward thumb sign gesture

• A rightward thumb sign gesture

• A monarch butterfly (as opposed to the non-specifying 🦋)

• A pickle (as opposed to a 🥒 Cucumber)

• A lighthouse

• A meteor (as opposed to a ☄️ Comet)

• An eraser, for removing pencil markings from paper

• A net with a handle, like those used to catch bugs

In my opinion, the pickle and meteor are the big additions here. A pickle is distinct from a cucumber and could come in handy. And, well, with the way things have been going, a crashing meteor emoji could prove useful, too. Here's what the proposed new emoji look like.

Credit: Unicode/Emojipedia

To be clear, just because these emoji are proposed doesn't mean they'll ultimately be approved. And even if they are approved, there's quite a long process before you'll see the new emoji on your keyboard. Unicode is the organization that approves designs for new emoji, but then the big tech companies need to implement the changes.

But, still, we could soon have a pickle and meteor emoji at our disposal. So that's nice.

When I started the move away from Spotify, I had no problem finding replacement music services. But finding a new podcast player was harder. There's no shortage of choice, but each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. I ended up back with an old favorite that's always quietly got everything right: Pocket Casts.

Whether you're assigning random shifts, anonymizing a study, or shuffling a deck, randomizing rows in an Excel table manually is guaranteed to result in mistakes. So, instead of dragging and dropping rows to shuffle your data, try these two methods to achieve the same outcome in seconds.

Fuel-sipping hybrids are a smart choice for many buyers, but not all electrified powertrains are created equal. In 2025, a handful of hybrid vehicles stand out not just for efficiency, but for real-world reliability that’s been proven over years of ownership. These models have consistently delivered dependable performance, low repair costs, and long-term durability, qualities that matter just as much as headline mpg numbers when you’re deciding what to buy.

I used to hop from one project to another, thinking I’d get better at solving problems with code. But after three years as a freelance software engineer working on backend solutions, I learned that writing more code doesn't make you a better developer — it requires critical thinking too. Many developers assume they have this skill, not realizing it's what separates the average developer from solution-driven ones. Here are five exercises I do to improve.

Google kicked off the new year with a pretty major announcement for the future of Android. After nearly 20 years, it's cutting the frequency of source code releases in half. Starting this year, Google is shifting to a biannual schedule, and it could have some sneaky implications for you.

There’s a lot of misinformation and supposition regarding what most now refer to as AI, or artificial intelligence. Though the technology has seen widespread adoption, there are some fundamental truths that still go unnoticed that can definitely color your perspective of what the technology is capable of and what the future may hold.

The transition from Windows to Linux can be pretty intimidating. That's why some Linux distros aim to offer a Windows-like experience, with a familiar desktop and a terminal-free interface. Here are five Linux distros that provide the smooth Windows-like experience you're searching for.

I used to rely on Excel's Remove Duplicates tool like a reflex, but it's actually a dangerous, destructive, dead-end process that leaves no visible audit trail. So, I've switched to the UNIQUE function, which turns a static cleanup chore into a live-updating system that never deletes my source data.

When you create automations in Home Assistant, they don't always behave exactly as you might expect. Sometimes, instead of triggering once as intended, your automation might fire multiple times in quick succession. If this is happening to you, there are several fairly simple ways to solve it.

If your Netflix watch list is running a little dry after a holiday streaming streak, don't worry: the year may have just begun, but the platform has already scheduled some of its best titles for the winter.

The best thing about Linux is that it respects its users. It does exactly what you tell it to do. Want to kill a program? Send the kill command and it'll be terminated without warning. However, the worst part about Linux is also that it does exactly what you tell it to do. Here's what I mean.

This was one of the busiest weeks of the year for tech, with CES 2026 bringing along countless announcements, and plenty of news happening outside of Las Vegas as well. Here are the biggest stories you might have missed.

Sick of searching for app recommendations only to find the same LibreOffice and GIMP suggestions everywhere? Want genuinely useful tools that solve unique problems you never knew you had? Well, here are three free and open-source apps that power users swear by—but mainstream lists ignore.

The move to a universal and reversible USB-C connector has been hugely beneficial for most of us. You can power everything from your smartphone to your laptop using a single cable, as long as you pair it with a capable adapter.

GitHub is great for exploring repositories, but it’s not always the best option for your project. If you want to keep it private, access it without the internet, or configure what you see, you’ll need to use command-line magic or a GUI client.

The best streaming deals for watching the Golden Globes: WATCH LIVE Paramount+ Premium annual subscription Free 7-day trial, then $119.99/year (save 23%) Get Deal WATCH THE NEXT DAY Paramount+ Essential annual subscription Free 7-day trial, then $59.99/year (save 38%) Get Deal BEST THIRD-PARTY DEAL Free Paramount+ with Walmart+ membership free 30-day trial, then $98/year Get Deal BEST FOR STUDENTS Paramount+ Premium for students $6.49/month (save 50%) Get Deal BEST LIVE TV FREE TRIAL YouTube TV free 21-day trial, then $59.99/month for 2 months Get Deal

Awards season is upon us once again after another huge year for film and television. The Golden Globe Awards will kick things off this weekend, giving us a little taste of what's to come. Stars will flock to Los Angeles, where the best in movies and TV will be honored for their work in 2025.

The awards have comedian Nikki Glaser back once again to solo host Hollywood's "party of the year." There's also plenty of first-time nominees again this year — including Dwayne Johnson, Chase Infiniti, Rhea Seehorn, Kevin Hart, Britt Lower, and more.

If you want to be a part of Hollywood's big night and see your favorite stars shine, here's everything you need to know to watch the 2026 Golden Globes live.

When are the Golden Globe Awards?

The 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards will take place on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. You can tune in live at 8 p.m. ET.

Who is nominated at the Golden Globes?

Marlon Wayans and Skye P. Marshall announced the 83rd Golden Globes nominees in a live CBS broadcast on Dec. 8. Paul Thomas Anderson's ambitious epic One Battle After Another earned the most nominations with nine, followed by Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value with eight and Ryan Coogler's Sinners (Mashable's favorite movie of 2025) with seven.

On the TV side of things, The White Lotus leads nominations with six, followed by Adolescence with five, and Only Murders in the Building and Severance both with four.

Check out the full list of nominees.

How to watch the Golden Globes live without cable

Thanks to a five-year deal locked in last year between the Golden Globe Awards and CBS, the awards show will be broadcast on the network live. If you don't have cable, however, you'll be able to livestream the show on Paramount+ Premium only. The Paramount+ Essential plan will only get you access to the on-demand broadcast the next day after the awards air.

Paramount+ Premium will run you $12.99 per month, while Paramount+ Essential is just $7.99 per month.

Another option? Sign up for a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV or Fubo. These services offer live streaming of local channels, including CBS, so you can catch the broadcast as it's happening. They cost a lot more than Paramount+, but they do offer free trials if you're a new subscriber.

Is there a Paramount+ free trial?

Yes, for the meantime. Paramount+ offers free seven-day trials for newbies for both the Essential and Premium tiers (until Jan. 15). So, technically, if you've never subscribed to Paramount+ before, you can sign up for a week-long trial of the Premium tier and watch the Golden Globes for free during that time. Just remember to cancel your subscription before the trial ends if you want to avoid charges.

Don't qualify for the free trial? We've also found a few different ways you can save some money on a subscription. Check out the best Paramount+ streaming deals below.

The best Paramount+ streaming dealsBest deal to watch live: Save 23% on a Paramount+ Premium annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Premium annual subscription $119.99/year (save $35.89) Get Deal

If you want to catch the Golden Globe Awards live, you'll need the Paramount+ Premium plan, which regularly goes for $12.99 per month. However, you can save 23% if you opt for an annual plan for $119.99 instead. That brings the monthly cost down to just $10 instead of $12.99. You'll have to pay more upfront, but you'll also get more bang for your buck. Beyond just unlocking the live broadcast, you'll also get access to Showtime originals and movies (like Yellowjackets and The Curse) as well as live sports. Not to mention, you'll lock in that price for a year, which means you'll avoid the price increase set to take place on Jan. 15.

Best deal to watch later: Save 38% on a Paramount+ Essential annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Essential annual subscription $59.99/year (save 38%) Get Deal

If you don't mind watching the awards show after it airs (and can avoid spoilers), you can subscribe to Paramount+ Essential for a single month at $7.99. You'll be able to catch the broadcast on demand the day after it airs live. Just remember to cancel before your month is up if you want to avoid further monthly charges. Want to stick around and save some money? Opt for the annual plan and save 38% on your subscription. It'll run you just $59.99 per year, which breaks down to $5 per month instead of the usual $7.99. That's like getting 12 months for less than the price of eight.

Best deal for students: Save 50% on Paramount+ Premium Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Essential for students $4.50/month (save 25%) Get Deal

College students can score a Paramount+ Premium monthly subscription for just $6.49 per month, so long as they can verify their student status using SheerID. Once verified, student discounts are valid for your first 12 months. After 12 months, you'll be charged the standard rate for a Premium monthly subscription.

Best third-party deal: Get Paramount+ for free with a Walmart+ membership Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Walmart+ membership Free 30-day trial, then $98/year Get Deal

It may not be the simplest way to watch, but a Walmart+ membership gives you free access to Paramount+ Essential and plenty of other sweet benefits. Better yet, you can kick things off with a free 30-day trial, so you can enjoy an entire month of streaming without paying a cent. Just be sure to cancel before your trial ends if you want to avoid charges. If you want to keep your Walmart+ membership going, it'll cost you either $12.95 per month or $98 per year ($8.17/month). As we noted above, Paramount+ Essential will only get you access to the on-demand broadcast the day after the Golden Globes air.

Live TV streaming services with free trials

If you want to catch the Golden Globe Awards live and for free, but don't qualify for a Paramount+ trial, you can also try out some live TV streaming services. YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream are all streamers that offer CBS live in their channel lineup — and all four offer free trials to newcomers.

Best live TV streaming service Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV Free 10-day trial, then $59.99/month for three months Get Deal

YouTube TV is our top pick, as it not only offers newbies a 21-day trial period, but also an introductory rate of $59.99 per month for your first two months. After that, it'll jump up to $82.99 per month. Beyond watching the Golden Globes live on CBS, YouTube TV offers a lineup of over 100 live channels that will make you forget all about cable. The best part is that there are no hidden fees or contracts involved. Pay for what you want and cancel whenever you choose. If you want to avoid charges, be sure to cancel your subscription before the trial period ends.

Honorable mentions

• Fubo Pro — free 7-day trial, then $48.99 for your first month ($73.99/month thereafter)

• Hulu + Live TV — free 3-day trial, then $82.99 per month

• DirecTV Stream — free 5-day trial, then $84.99 for your first month ($94.99/month thereafter)

There is clearly a fast-growing market for AI-tracking sports cameras, as evidenced by the several new models we came across at CES 2026.

The XbotGo Falcon, however, might be the one with the clearest shot at giving some of the big players in the space some real competition.

The XbotGo Falcon is an AI-tracking camera meant for sports. You place it on your tripod, let it know which sport you're tracking, and give it some parameters for the field of play if you’d like. It will then automatically record the game while panning and zooming in and out to follow the action.

SEE ALSO: 10+ gadgets from CES 2026 that you can buy right now: Dell, Xreal, Samsung, more

Now, if you’ve looked into AI-tracking sports cameras before, you might be familiar with brands like Veo. They’ve been around for a while and are the go-to for soccer clubs to record the league's games. However, if you're just a parent or a volunteer youth coach looking to record your kids' games, you'd likely pass on the Veo because, along with purchasing the camera for $1,200 upfront, you also need to pay for a subscription that's well over $1,000 per year. And that's just for the basic recording features; the cost increases even more when you add additional capabilities like streaming.

The XbotGo Falcon, however, is completely subscription-free, making it a much more affordable solution.

If the XbotGo name sounds familiar, you might have heard of their previous product, the XbotGo Chameleon. This AI-tracking camera required that users attach their smartphone to the top of the device. Your smartphone was the device used to record the game, while the XbotGo Chameleon's camera was utilized solely for its AI-tracking capabilities. This led to some issues, as you couldn't use your iPhone during a game for other purposes, nor could you easily monitor what your smartphone was actually recording while sitting up high on the Chameleon mounted atop a tripod.

The XbotGo Chameleon and new XbotGo Falcon side-by-side. Credit: Mashable

The XbotGo Falcon addresses these issues by incorporating a high-quality recording camera into the device, alongside the AI-tracking camera. Users can now also utilize their iPhone as a monitor, connecting it to the Falcon to view real-time footage of what's being recorded. If the AI-tracking loses its place for one reason or another, users can manually pan the Falcon using their iPhone to get the device back on track.

Additionally, XbotGo reports that they've resolved issues with their AI-tracking software. In order to stop the camera from getting distracted by kids playing on the sidelines of the game it should be recording, the Falcon can now lock onto the specific game ball instead of just looking for gameplay action movement.

We may have covered other AI tracking cameras at CES, but if you're looking for an affordable, prosumer-type solution specifically designed for capturing sports, the XbotGo Falcon seems like your best bet. If you're running a sports league, the Veo camera might make sense for all of its pro analytical capabilities, but if you're just a parent looking to capture video of your kid's games or even a small youth team, the XbotGo Falcon will save you thousands of dollars.

XbotGo Falcon Credit: Mashable

The XbotGo Falcon will begin shipping to its early Kickstarter backers later this month, before launching on the market in March with a retail price of $599.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

I've already covered a lot of trends emerging from CES 2026, but one of the most notable has been smart glasses, in all their various forms. I've tried on numerous pairs of smart glasses over the past five days, ranging from electrochromic sports glasses with customizable tint to the world's first AR gaming glasses featuring a 240 Hz refresh rate. In fact, I'm writing this article on a plane flying from Las Vegas to New York City, and using the Xreal One Pro's ultra-wide spatial computing display as I do.

Full disclosure, I strongly prefer smart glasses without an onboard camera. I dislike the idea of Big Tech brands being able to see and hear everything I do. Removing the cameras also solves the Google Glasshole problem.

SEE ALSO: 10+ gadgets from CES 2026 that you can buy right now: Dell, Xreal, Samsung, more

If I had to pick one smart glasses brand that wowed me the most at CES, it would have to be Xreal. That said, the brand faces steep competition from established brands like Even Realities and TCL, as well as newcomers like MemoMind.

So, check out the best smart glasses of CES 2026, all based on my first-hand experience from the event.

Best in show: ROG Xreal R1 AR gaming glasses and Real 3D The ROG Xreal R1 gaming glasses have a fantastic display. Credit: Xreal

For me, CES is all about those genuine "wow!" moments. I'm looking for products that feel like they've been plucked straight out of a science fiction movie. And that's what Xreal delivered at CES, more so than any other smart glasses demo I saw.

Xreal showcased a wide range of new products at CES 2026. Not only did they debut the new Xreal 1S AR Glasses, which deliver key upgrades and a price drop, but they also have a new pair of gaming glasses with world-first technology. You can buy the Xreal 1S glasses right now, but the real showstopper was the unreleased ROG Xreal R1 AR gaming glasses.

The ROG Xreal R1 glasses feature a stunning AR display. You can project games from a PC, console, or handheld onto a spatial screen up to 171 inches in size. These are also the world's first AR glasses with a 240 Hz refresh rate, thanks to new 1080p micro-OLED panels. I briefly played Elden Ring and Forza Horizon 5, and the graphics looked phenomenal. Even the Apple Vision Pro doesn't go above 120 Hz. I will say, as cool as it is, this is a very niche product, with limited use cases.

Testing the ROG Xreal R1 AR gaming glasses at CES. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable Testing the Real 3D feature on the Xreal One Pro AR glasses. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

On top of that, Xreal is offering a Real 3D conversion feature for the 1S and One Pro glasses as an over-the-air update. This feature instantly transforms 2D displays into 3D displays, allowing you to scroll through your Instagram feed in three dimensions or turn any movie or video game into a 3D experience.

We don't have a confirmed release date for the new gaming glasses, but Xreal promised they're coming in 2026. The bad news? They'll likely land with a hefty price tag.

Best sports glasses: Povec Optics C1 sunglasses

One of my favorite finds at CES is a pair of smart glasses with no camera, no heads-up display, and no speakers. So, what's so smart about them?

The C1 sunglasses from startup Povec Optics are electrochromic, meaning they feature a customizable tint. Simply slide your finger along the side of the glasses, and the tint instantly changes. I've never seen anything like these glasses, and that's what CES is all about, right?

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I love these glasses because they aren't trying to do a dozen different things, a common problem with smart glasses. Plus, they feel a little bit like magic.

The company's founder told me the glasses will be released in 2026. I recommend following Povec Optics on Instagram for updates.

Best for entertainment: TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro smart glasses Timothy Werth wearing TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro smart glasses Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable TCL also showed off its RayNeo X3 Pro glasses, released in Dec. 2025. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

TCL has been making smart glasses under its RayNeo line for a while now, but without making much of an impact on the market. I think that's going to change with the imminent launch of the new RayNeo Air 4 Pro smart glasses, which arrive Jan. 25.

These are Xreal-style AR glasses with a floating virtual display. However, they boast a true HDR display that's brighter, more colorful, and crisper than any other smart glasses I've tried so far.

And here's the coolest part: They're priced at $299. That's a pretty unbeatable price in this space.

Best audio glasses: Lucyd smart glasses

I'll be honest — I wasn't familiar with Lucyd (pronounced "lucid") prior to CES, but the brand has been making smart glasses for a while. They're really unique glasses in one absolutely critical way: They're priced just like regular glasses. They look and feel just like regular glasses, which I also appreciate.

Lucyd can sell smart glasses for as little as $99 because they aren't trying to do too much. Lucyd frames have speakers built in, which can be helpful for hands-free communication on job sites, listening to music while you work out, getting quick answers from ChatGPT, or taking phone calls on the go.

Trying Lucyd smart glasses at CES 2026. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable Lucyd makes audio glasses for brands like Reebok, Eddie Bauer, and others. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

A Lucyd representative informed me that the company is focused on creating the best possible eyewear at a reasonable price, and I believe that is evident in the product. The glasses had great sound, and the company's sports glasses (part of a partnership with Reebok) are a particular highlight, along with their prescription frames. Lightweight, stylish, and affordable is a rare combination in the smart glasses world, but Lucyd pulls it off.

You can shop for Lucyd smart sports glasses at the brand's website and other online retailers, with prices starting at just $179 for sports glasses. You can also purchase regular Lucyd frames on Amazon, starting at $99.

Best heads-up display: Even Realities G2 The Even G2 Smart Glasses. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Even Realities had the best display smart glasses I've tried yet, full stop. However, the Even G2 Smart Glasses I tried aren't new for CES. That said, they easily had the best heads-up display I tried at the show, as well as the best live translation. I was able to have a back-and-forth conversation in Italian and English about Formula 1 and Lewis Hamilton, with the glasses display providing a live translation.

Instant, live translation is here. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable Even R1 smart ring. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

I was also impressed by the map and navigation features, the teleprompter mode, and the overall design. Unlike most smart glasses, they have thin frames, so they don't look as clunky on your face. Even Realities also features a smart ring, which allows you to control the glasses using simple touch controls.

The subtle display on the Even G2 glasses. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

You can buy Even Realities G2 glasses directly from the brand's website for $599.

Best newcomer: XGIMI MemoMind AI glasses The Memo One AI Glasses will be available for preorder soon. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

The projector brand XGIMI had a surprise announcement at CES. They're releasing a new line of display smart glasses under the new brand MemoMind. XGIMI incubated the MemoMind startup to release the glasses.

MemoMind will be releasing three smart glasses, although only two have names so far: the Memo One and the Memo Air Display. The latter features a monocular display and offers a more minimalist approach. The Memo One AI glasses feature "integrated speakers with a dual-eye display for both visual and audio AI interaction."

Timothy Werth wearing MemoMind Memo One AI Glasses at CES 2026. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable I liked the style of the Memo One glasses on display at CES. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

I got to try both glasses, and they had a well-rounded feature set, including navigation, live translation, a teleprompter, and AI summaries. The company says that the glasses run on a "multi-LLM hybrid operating system that automatically selects the most suitable AI model for each task — including OpenAI, Azure, and Qwen."

I liked the design of the glasses on display, and they were impressively lightweight. They will also be fully customizable, both in terms of style and prescription. The Memo One will be available for preorder "soon" for $599.

Best Meta Ray-Ban Display alternative: Rokid AI glasses

Rokid is a Chinese company that sells AR glasses on Amazon. However, for CES, this smart glasses brand announced the launch of a new pair of AI display glasses. The built-in camera can see what you see and instantly provide answers, like the Meta Ray-Ban Display. Unlike the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, which have a starting price of $379, these AI display glasses start at $299.

Testing the upcoming Rokid AI Smart Glasses at CES. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

During a demo, I asked the glasses to describe the crowded CES scene around me, and it did so with a surprising amount of detail and accuracy. That said, the Rokid live translation feature wasn't as good as what I experienced with Even Realities.

However, if you like the idea of AI glasses that can capture content, answer questions, and provide info via a heads-up display, the new Rokid AI Glasses can do all of the above. Personally, I prefer smart glasses that aren't trying to do too much, but I know some people want all the bells and whistles.

You can preorder the Rokid AI Glasses at the company's website.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

NASA will bring four astronauts home from the International Space Station days earlier than planned after one crew member experienced a medical issue that requires further testing. 

In a news conference Thursday evening, agency leaders said the astronaut is "absolutely stable" but needs a full diagnostic workup that can't be done in the lab orbiting 250 miles above the planet. The return from space marks the first controlled medical evacuation from the station in its 25 years of continuous operations, highlighting the rarity of the situation and the limits of treating complex health problems away from Earth.

New NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said ending the mission a little early is in the best interest of Crew-11. The astronauts — Commander Zena Cardman, pilot Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimya Yui, and Russia’s Oleg Platonov — will ride SpaceX's Dragon Endeavour capsule back to Earth within days. 

Once Dragon departs, American astronaut Chris Williams, who arrived on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in November, will be the only U.S. crew member left. Russian colleagues will help Williams manage systems and experiments until Crew‑12's flight launches, potentially as soon as mid‑February. 

Here's what we know about the unprecedented medical evacuation:

SEE ALSO: New discovery just broke the record for fastest-spinning large asteroid Who is the sick astronaut on the ISS?

NASA is deliberately trying to keep the name of the affected astronaut confidential, citing medical privacy practices. During the Jan. 8 briefing, officials didn't disclose identifying information — not even slipping up with any gendered pronouns in their comments. 

What we do know is that just prior to the announcement of the medical evacuation, NASA had canceled a scheduled spacewalk — a venture outside the space station — specifically because of the medical concern that arose Wednesday afternoon. NASA astronauts Fincke and Cardman were expected to perform that operation, related to an installation of solar panels.

JAXA, NASA's Japanese space counterpart, released a statement that clarified Yui is not the crew member dealing with the health issue, according to Japanese news reports. 

What is the medical condition on the ISS?

Though NASA’s chief health and medical officer J.D. Polk said he wouldn't talk specifics about a diagnosis, he and other officials repeatedly referred to the circumstance as "serious." 

NASA has only confirmed that the astronaut is now "stable," but officials haven't said if there was ever a time when the astronaut was not stable. They declined to provide enough details to infer that. 

When asked whether physical preparations for the spacewalk were involved in the problem, Dr. Polk clarified that it was unrelated to pre-breathing procedures. Before a spacewalk, astronauts breathe pure oxygen for a set period to flush nitrogen out of their bloodstream. 

Inside the space station, air is like Earth's, with a mix of nitrogen and oxygen. In the spacesuit, the pressure is much lower and mostly oxygen. A sudden switch from one to the other could cause the dissolved nitrogen in a person's body to form bubbles and cause the bends, like in scuba diving. Pre-breathing is intended to reduce the risk of decompression sickness. 

"This actually had nothing to do with the operational environment in preparing for a spacewalk at all," Dr. Polk said. "This was totally unrelated to any operations on board."

Dr. Polk also emphasized that the medical issue wasn't an injury in the course of work, though he stopped short of saying whether it was some other kind of injury. 

"It's mostly having a medical issue in the difficult areas of microgravity," he said. 

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke checks communication and power systems in his pressurized spacesuit 10 days before a spacewalk planned for Jan. 8, 2026. Credit: NASA What medical emergencies have happened before? 

Astronauts have handled many medical issues over a quarter-century at the space station, but most fall in the category of urgent-care problems, like toothaches and ear pain. 

Public reports also describe astronauts managing minor injuries and infections, back pain, motion sickness, headaches, and vision changes with telemedicine and the onboard medical kit. They've even dealt with a blood clot in the neck, treating it with injections of a blood-thinning drug and later oral medication, once it arrived on a cargo resupply ship.

"We've had many models … that have said we should have had a medical evacuation approximately every three years in that 25-year history," Dr. Polk said. 

Is the astronaut evacuation an emergency?

Technically speaking, no. NASA describes it as a "controlled expedited return," not an emergency deorbit for the crew. That might seem like semantics, but the difference indicates the situation's perceived level of severity.

An emergency deorbit would mean departing the station as soon as possible, regardless of the landing timing, sea conditions, weather, and other risks, which NASA is capable of doing, Isaacman said. An expedited return, on the other hand, sticks to approved landing zones and mission rules. The latter type of departure indicates the astronaut's life isn't considered in immediate danger.

Despite the crew member remaining stable, NASA wants to bring the person home because the station lacks the full diagnostic hardware normally found in a hospital, officials said.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts participate in a water survival demonstration at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab in April 2025. Credit: NASA / James Blair When will the SpaceX Dragon return to Earth?

NASA hasn't announced an exact landing date yet, but the ship will undock in the "coming days." Officials said they would provide another update by Saturday evening on the departure timeline. NASA will choose the date after teams match the spacecraft’s readiness with weather and recovery conditions.

The splashdown itself should look pretty standard, according to the agency. NASA intends to use the normal recovery convoy to pick up the crew. Every Dragon ship is outfitted with emergency gear, and flight surgeons are always on the recovery ship for every landing, with contingency hospitals waiting on standby when astronauts return. 

"This is no different in that respect," Dr. Polk said.