Four astronauts head home in Nasa’s first medical evacuation from space station

The SpaceX Dragon departing from the International Space Station shortly after undocking with four crew-members inside (Nasa via AP)

An astronaut in need of care from doctors has departed the International Space Station with three crewmates 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.