There was a major update on Wednesday regarding a “medical incident” aboard NASA’s International Space Station (ISS). NASA astronautMike Fincke described himself as an employee experiencing health issues.
The medical emergency prompted the first emergency evacuation of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International Space Station. The evacuated astronauts include NASA’s Zena Cadman, Japan’s Yui Kimiya and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.
Despite the successful evacuation on January 15, NASA did not reveal the nature of the medical incident or the identity of the astronaut who suffered the health scare.
Fink confirmed that he experienced health issues that forced Crew 11 to abandon the mission four months early. Crew 11 sets off in August 2025 and is scheduled to complete its mission in April 2026.
“On January 7, while abroad on the International Space Station, I experienced a medical event that required the immediate attention of my incredible crew,” Fink said in a statement. NASA.
“After further evaluation, NASA has determined that the safest course of action is to return Crew-11 early—not an emergency, but a carefully coordinated plan to be able to take advantage of advanced medical imaging technology not available on the space station,” the statement added.
Here, we’ll learn five interesting facts about veteran NASA astronaut Mike Finck.
1. He’s from Emsworth, near Pittsburgh
Mike Fincke is a Pennsylvania native who grew up in Emsworth, just outside the state capital of Pittsburgh. He attended Pennsylvania State University before attending MIT.
2. His wife is of Indian origin
Mike Fink’s wife, Renita Saikia, is from Northeast India. Her parents Rupesh and Probha Saikia immigrated from assamIndia. They live in Houston, Texas, where Renita grew up. She works in research operations and integration at NASA. They have three children.
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3. He has spent the fourth most time in space among NASA astronauts
Mike Fincke has completed four missions and will have spent more than 549 days in space by 2026. This ranks him fourth among NASA astronauts in terms of accumulated space flight time.
4. Medical issues remain undisclosed
NASA has not yet disclosed the nature of the medical issues Fink suffered while aboard the International Space Station. It is understood that the incident occurred during a planned spacewalk on January 7.
5. He is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel
Fink graduated from United States Air Force Entered the college in 1990. In 1996, while still serving in the Air Force, he was selected as a NASA astronaut candidate. He later retired from the Air Force with the rank of colonel and worked full-time at NASA.
