NASA’s Crew 11 astronauts were nearing the end of their mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) when an unexpected medical emergency changed everything. In January, Crew 11 pilot Mike Fincke experienced a sudden health crisis that led to NASA’s first medical evacuation from the ISS.
Fincke identified himself as the affected astronaut in February, but details were sparse until a recent Associated Press interview. He shockingly revealed that he lost the ability to speak during dinner on January 7. “It was completely out of the blue,” he said. Just hours earlier, he had been preparing for a spacewalk, a task he had successfully completed multiple times before.
For about 20 minutes, Fincke couldn’t communicate, prompting his crewmates—Commander Zena Cardman, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov—to spring into action. They quickly contacted flight surgeons on the ground. “It was all hands on deck within just a matter of seconds,” Fincke recounted.
The ISS is equipped with medical supplies and equipment to handle various health issues. An ultrasound machine was used during this emergency, but details about the specific care Fincke received remained private. Ultimately, the decision was made to bring him back to Earth for further evaluation, marking NASA’s first medical evacuation in 25 years.
The Crew 11 team returned to Earth on January 15, 35 days earlier than planned. This left just three astronauts on the ISS, the minimum needed to maintain operations. Since then, Fincke has undergone numerous medical tests, and NASA is reviewing the health histories of other astronauts for similar occurrences. Fortunately, he reported feeling fine afterward, stating, “The good news is that we got a lot of good data to show that it wasn’t anything bad. I didn’t have a stroke. I didn’t have a heart attack,” adding, “We’re almost 100% sure that this is a space-related thing.”
The challenges of human spaceflight can significantly affect health. Astronauts face issues like muscle loss, bone density reduction, and changes in fluid distribution—all consequences of prolonged microgravity exposure. Although there’s no direct evidence linking microgravity to sudden speech loss, Fincke’s situation raises questions. He has spent over 549 days in weightlessness during his career, and researchers are eager to study the implications of his experience.
The incident has not only highlighted the importance of health protocols aboard the ISS but also served as a learning opportunity for the entire Crew 11 team. Commander Cardman noted, “We did as well as we possibly could have. I think this is a really great exercise, and we’ll be able to apply these lessons as we go farther afield.”
With ongoing research into astronaut health and safety in space, experts stress the need for vigilance and adaptability in space missions. NASA could use data from Fincke’s case to improve protocols for future missions, ensuring the well-being of astronauts in the challenging environment of space. For more information on astronaut health care in space, you can explore NASA’s resources here.
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