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Mike Fincke Identifies Himself as Astronaut Behind First ISS Medical Evacuation

NASA says the Crew-11 early return was a coordinated decision to obtain advanced imaging not available on the station.

Overview

  • Fincke said he experienced a medical event on Jan. 7 that required immediate attention, prompting the cancellation of a planned Jan. 8 spacewalk.
  • Crew-11 — Fincke, Zena Cardman, Kimiya Yui and Oleg Platonov — undocked Jan. 14 and splashed down off San Diego on Jan. 15 after about five-and-a-half months in orbit.
  • NASA initially withheld the affected astronaut’s identity for medical privacy and released Fincke’s name at his request.
  • Fincke credited crewmates, flight surgeons and the station’s ultrasound for stabilizing his condition, and he thanked teams at NASA, SpaceX and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.
  • He reports he is doing very well with post‑flight reconditioning in Houston, says Earth-based imaging produced reassuring results, and the specific diagnosis has not been disclosed; ISS staffing returned to seven with Crew‑12’s mid‑February arrival.