Astronaut Mike Fincke has revealed that he was the astronaut who experienced a medical issue aboard the International Space Station last month, leading to NASA’s first-ever medical evacuation. In a statement released by NASA, Fincke mentioned that on January 7, while on the space station, he had a medical event that required immediate attention from his colleagues. He stated that he is currently in good condition and is undergoing post-flight reconditioning, although the specific health concern that necessitated the evacuation was not disclosed.

Fincke was part of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission, which also included NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. Due to the severity of the situation, the mission was cut short to allow Fincke to receive advanced diagnostics and treatment on Earth, resulting in NASA’s first medical evacuation in its 65-year history of human spaceflight. With only three crew members left to manage the ISS operations, NASA had to pause spacewalks and reduce research activities until a new team arrived earlier this month.

Although the identity of the sick astronaut and the nature of the illness were not disclosed by NASA due to medical privacy concerns, Fincke expressed gratitude towards his crew members for their professionalism and dedication. He also thanked the healthcare providers at a hospital near San Diego, where the crew safely landed on January 15. Fincke emphasized that spaceflight is a remarkable privilege that can highlight the shared humanity of astronauts.