CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Astronaut Mike Fincke, who experienced NASA’s first medical evacuation earlier this year, still doesn’t know why he fell ill aboard the International Space Station.
On January 7, after dinner and prepping for a spacewalk, Fincke suddenly found himself unable to speak. Thankfully, his crew teammates reacted quickly, reaching out to flight surgeons for assistance. “It was completely out of the blue,” Fincke described in an interview from Johnson Space Center in Houston.
At 59, this retired Air Force colonel has seen his fair share of space missions, but this episode was unlike anything he’s previously encountered. For about 20 minutes, he felt distressed but afterward was perfectly fine. Doctors ruled out a heart attack, and he mentioned that choking was not involved. Now they’re investigating what could be connected to his 549 days of weightlessness.
Imagine being in a tight space like the ISS with teammates watching out for you. Fincke vividly recalled: “It was all hands on deck within just a matter of seconds.” After this incident, he underwent numerous tests on Earth and has been in good health since.
NASA is currently reviewing medical records of other astronauts to check for any similar occurrences in space. Fincke has emphasized that maintaining medical privacy for astronauts is essential, which is why he doesn’t have more details to share.
Interestingly, this unpredicted medical event interrupted Fincke’s plans for spacewalk number ten and forced an early return for him and some crewmates. SpaceX brought them back on January 15, over a month sooner than planned, leading to a swift hospital visit.
Fincke expressed regret for the disruption but noted that it was beyond his control. “I’ve been very lucky to be super healthy, so this was very surprising for everyone,” he said.
As for the future, Fincke remains hopeful about returning to space one day. His story serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of space travel and the resilience of those who venture into the unknown.
For further reading on astronaut health and safety protocols in space, you can check out NASA’s mission pages here.
