NASA Astronaut Speaks After Medical Event Forced Historic Early Return From International Space Station Mission

February 26, 2026

124

Veteran astronaut Mike Fincke has confirmed he was the crew member who experienced a medical incident that prompted an unprecedented early return from the International Space Station last month.

Fincke was part of the Crew-11 mission alongside Zena Cardman, Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Oleg Platonov from Roscosmos.

The crew returned to Earth in mid-January after Fincke experienced what he described as a medical event that required urgent attention from fellow astronauts and flight medical specialists. The sudden departure marked the first time the U.S. space program had shortened a space station mission specifically because of health concerns involving a crew member.

At the time of the return, space authorities did not publicly disclose which astronaut had been affected or provide details about the medical condition, citing privacy protections. Fincke later revealed his identity while keeping medical specifics confidential.

“I experienced a medical event that required immediate assistance from my crewmates,” Fincke said in a statement. He added that the rapid response from teammates and guidance from medical experts helped stabilize his condition during the mission.

Signup for the USA Herald exclusive Newsletter