Astronaut Mike Fincke has revealed that he was the astronaut who experienced a medical emergency on the International Space Station last month, leading to NASA’s first-ever medical evacuation. In a statement released by NASA, Fincke acknowledged the incident that occurred on Jan. 7 and expressed gratitude for the prompt assistance from his team. He mentioned that he is currently undergoing post-flight reconditioning and is recovering well, although the specific health issue that necessitated the evacuation was not disclosed.
Fincke was a member of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission, which also included NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. The severity of Fincke’s condition prompted the mission to be cut short for him to receive advanced medical care on Earth, marking NASA’s first medical evacuation in its 65-year history of human spaceflight. As a result, only three crew members remained aboard the ISS, leading to a temporary pause in spacewalks and research activities until a new team arrived.
While NASA did not disclose the specific details of the illness or which astronaut was affected due to medical privacy reasons, Fincke expressed gratitude towards his crewmates for their support and the healthcare professionals who assisted upon their return to Earth on Jan. 15. The crew’s mission was shortened by approximately a month from the planned six-month duration, with Fincke highlighting the importance of having an ultrasound machine on future spaceflights based on its critical role during the medical emergency.