NASA's first-ever medical evacuation from space—check latest updates here

An astronaut requiring medical treatment left the International Space Station on Wednesday, accompanied by three fellow crew members, marking NASA’s first-ever medical evacuation from the ISS, as reported by AP.

The four returning astronauts — from the U.S., Russia and Japan — are aiming for an early Thursday morning splashdown in the Pacific near San Diego with SpaceX, according to the report.

The decision cuts short their mission by over a month.

Officials refused to identify the astronaut who needed care last week and would not divulge the health concerns.

AP reported that the ailing astronaut is “stable, safe and well cared for,” outgoing space station commander Mike Fincke said earlier this week via social media. “This was a deliberate decision to allow the right medical evaluations to happen on the ground, where the full range of diagnostic capability exists."

(With inputs from AP)

(This is a developing story;check later for updates)