NASA’s first medical evacuation was initiated earlier this year by an astronaut who is still uncertain about the cause of his sudden illness at the International Space Station. Mike Fincke, a four-time space traveler, explained that the incident occurred while he was having dinner on Jan. 7 and preparing for a spacewalk the next day. Despite experiencing speech difficulties and no pain, his concerned crewmates swiftly sought assistance from ground-based flight surgeons upon observing his distress.
In an interview from Houston’s Johnson Space Center, Fincke, aged 59 and a retired Air Force colonel, described the unexpected nature of the episode, which lasted approximately 20 minutes. Following the incident, he felt fine and has not encountered a similar situation before or since. While ruling out a heart attack or choking, medical experts are exploring other possibilities, including potential links to Fincke’s 549 days of weightlessness during his space station tenure.
According to Fincke, the medical details of his episode are restricted to ensure astronauts’ privacy in case of health emergencies. He mentioned that space station astronauts utilized an ultrasound device during the incident, and extensive tests have been conducted since his return to Earth. NASA is reviewing medical records of other astronauts to identify any similar occurrences in space.
Fincke disclosed his identity as the affected astronaut last month to address public speculation. He expressed regret over the cancellation of a spacewalk, which would have been his 10th but was instead the first for crewmate Zena Cardman, leading to an early return for her and two other crewmates via SpaceX on Jan. 15, over a month ahead of schedule. Despite feeling remorseful, Fincke was reminded by NASA’s administrator, Jared Isaacman, that the circumstances were beyond his control due to the challenges of space travel.
Maintaining an optimistic outlook, Fincke hopes for a future opportunity to venture into space again, emphasizing the support and understanding he received from his colleagues.
