The spacecraft carrying Crew-11 departed from launch facilities at Kennedy Space Center before completing its mission in orbit.
A group of four astronauts known as Crew-12 later reached the station on February 14, bringing total station occupancy back to seven crew members, the typical number required to support scientific experiments and maintenance operations.
Fincke emphasized that the event did not represent a mission emergency but demonstrated the importance of preparation in spaceflight medicine.
“I am doing well and continuing post-flight recovery at NASA medical facilities,” he said. “Space exploration is a privilege, and it also reminds us of human limits and the need for safety.”
The mission is part of the broader exploration program of National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which is working on future deep-space human exploration initiatives, including long-duration missions beyond Earth orbit.
Space medicine researchers continue studying the health effects of prolonged microgravity exposure as agencies prepare for extended exploration missions in coming decades.
