NASA confirms that Mike Fincke of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission will require medical evacuation from the International Space Station. NASA described the situation as non-emergency but important enough to end the mission about a month early. The key issue is access to advanced medical imaging that is not available in orbit. The result was the first dedicated medical evacuation from the International Space Station, a quiet but significant moment for space medicine.This marks the first dedicated medical evacuation from the International Space Station. Prolonged spaceflight affects the body in known ways, such as loss of bone density, upward movement of fluids, and cardiovascular system adaptations, most of which are carefully monitored.
NASA confirms Mike Fincke’s health issues and need for Earth testing
Fink served as pilot of SpaceX Crew-11 and commander of Expedition 74 on the International Space Station. In a statement released by NASA on February 25, he confirmed that he experienced a medical event that reportedly required the immediate attention of other crew members.Fink reportedly expressed the need to return to Earth for further diagnostic testing. This is usually the dividing line on the track. The International Space Station carries an ultrasound machine and a basic medical kit. If a doctor needs high-resolution imaging or specialized equipment, the only real option is to go home.The issue apparently surfaced on January 7th. Fink and NASA astronaut Zena Cadman were preparing for the spacewalk. NASA initially mentioned only that there were “medical issues” on the space station and issued a warning. The next day it became apparent that Crew-11 would be returning earlier than planned.
Computer: NASA
Medical evaluation of NASA astronauts after splashdown
On January 15, Fink and his crew boarded the Crew Dragon capsule Endeavor built by SpaceX. He was joined by NASA astronaut Zena Cadman, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimya Yui and Roscosmos astronaut Oleg Platonov. The capsule undocking was successful, and a few hours later it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego.Rescue workers quickly intervened. All four astronauts were removed from the capsule on stretchers. This part sometimes worries people watching at home, even though it’s standard procedure after months in microgravity. The body needs time to readjust to gravity. Balance can feel weird. Fluctuations in blood pressure. My legs forgot the feeling of weight. The crew was transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla for evaluation.Fink later thanked his crew and medical team. Coordination played an important role, he said. He is now undergoing routine post-flight rehabilitation at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Meet Mike Fink: The NASA astronaut who led early ISS evacuations
Mike Funk is one of the most experienced astronauts of modern times. He serves as commander of Expedition 74 on the International Space Station and is a former flight engineer for Expedition 73, having logged an impressive 549 days in space. The astronaut’s leadership credentials include command of Expedition 18 to the International Space Station, while also serving as a flight engineer and science officer during Expedition 9, flying aboard Soyuz TMA-4 and Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft in support of space station operations. The astronaut has performed nine spacewalks, totaling 48 hours and 37 minutes, and has the rare honor of performing extravehicular activities wearing Russian Orlan and American EMU spacesuits. In addition to their missions, they also played a key role in NASA’s commercial crew program as director of the Astronaut Office of the Commercial Crew Division, contributing to spacecraft development, systems integration and human-machine interface design for the Crew Dragon and Starliner. Their space careers are complemented by extensive aviation backgrounds that include more than 2,000 flight hours in more than 30 aircraft types, as well as specialized work as flight test liaison for the Japanese-U.S. XF-2 fighter program.
