For the first time in the history of the International Space Station (ISS), NASA has confirmed a dedicated medical evacuation from orbit, after veteran astronaut Mike Fincke experienced a medical event that cut short his mission and prompted a swift, coordinated response from his crewmates and ground teams. The incident, which unfolded on January 7, 2026, has since been publicly acknowledged by Fincke himself, who expressed gratitude for the professionalism and care that ensured his safe return to Earth.
Fincke, a 58-year-old astronaut with a storied career that includes 549 days in space over four missions, was serving as the commander of ISS Expedition 74 and pilot of SpaceX’s Crew-11 when the medical issue arose. According to The Associated Press, the event required immediate attention from his fellow astronauts. Although the specific nature of Fincke’s ailment remains undisclosed—NASA adheres to strict privacy protocols regarding astronaut health—he described it as a situation that “required immediate attention” but was not deemed an emergency.
“On Jan. 7, while aboard the International Space Station, I experienced a medical event that required immediate attention from my incredible crewmates. Thanks to their quick response and the guidance of our NASA flight surgeons, my status quickly stabilized,” Fincke said in a statement released by NASA on February 25. “After further evaluation, NASA determined the safest course was an early return for Crew-11—not an emergency, but a carefully coordinated plan to be able to take advantage of advanced medical imaging not available on the space station.”
Fincke’s medical event occurred as he and NASA astronaut Zena Cardman were preparing for a spacewalk. The incident led to the cancellation of that planned extravehicular activity and set in motion a rapid series of decisions by NASA leadership. As reported by CNN, this was the first time an ISS staffing mission was ended early for health reasons—a milestone that underscores both the risks of human spaceflight and the evolving capabilities of space medicine.
Spaceflight, as astronauts and flight surgeons know well, can be tough on the human body. Microgravity leads to bone density loss, fluid shifts, and cardiovascular changes. The ISS is equipped with ultrasound machines and essential medical kits, but when it comes to advanced diagnostics—like high-resolution imaging—Earth remains the only real option. “That’s often the dividing line in orbit,” noted The Times of India, emphasizing that while the ISS is well-stocked for many scenarios, it still cannot match the capabilities of a terrestrial hospital.
Once the decision was made, Fincke and his crewmates—NASA’s Zena Cardman, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov—prepared for an expedited return. On January 15, the four astronauts boarded SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endeavour and undocked from the ISS. After a 10.5-hour journey that Fincke later described as “unforgettable” (“Plasma streaming past the windows, nearly five g’s after months of weightlessness, parachutes blooming overhead, and the Pacific rocking us gently back into Earth’s embrace. It was humbling. It was beautiful. A reminder that exploration always carries risk—and always carries wonder.”), the capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.
Recovery teams were quick to assist the astronauts from the capsule, placing them on stretchers—a standard procedure after prolonged exposure to microgravity, which can leave returning spacefarers dizzy and unsteady. The crew was then transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla for thorough medical evaluation. “The response from NASA’s flight surgeons, engineers, mission controllers, and leadership teams across the globe was extraordinary. Watching experts coordinate across time zones and disciplines—seamlessly connecting on-orbit monitoring with Earth-based medicine—reminded me how much NASA truly cares about its people,” Fincke wrote in a statement shared on LinkedIn.
Fincke’s public acknowledgment of his medical situation came more than a month after his return, upholding NASA’s tradition of protecting astronaut privacy. At a news conference on January 21, he and his crewmates declined to identify who had experienced the medical concern, instead focusing on the team’s training and preparedness. “How we handled everything all the way through, from nominal operations to this unforeseen operation, really bodes well for future exploration,” Fincke said, according to CNN.
The early return of Crew-11 left the ISS temporarily staffed by just three astronauts, a skeleton crew compared to the usual seven. NASA acted swiftly to launch Crew-12, which arrived at the station on February 14, restoring full staffing and ensuring scientific experiments and station maintenance could continue without interruption.
In the weeks following his return, Fincke underwent a “full range of terrestrial imaging and diagnostic evaluations—capabilities available only here on Earth,” as he wrote on LinkedIn. He reported that the results were “very reassuring” and that he was “firmly on the path to a complete recovery.” Routine post-flight rehabilitation continues at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where astronauts like Fincke recondition their bodies after the rigors of space.
Fincke’s gratitude extended to his entire support network: “I am deeply grateful to my fellow Expedition 74 members—Zena Cardman, Kimiya Yui, Oleg Platonov, Chris Williams, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, and Sergei Mikayev—as well as the entire NASA team, SpaceX, and the medical professionals at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla near San Diego. Their professionalism and dedication ensured a positive outcome.”
The mission, which lasted five and a half months, was a testament to both the challenges and the resilience of human spaceflight. Fincke’s career itself is a reflection of this spirit; he is one of NASA’s most experienced astronauts, having commanded multiple ISS expeditions and participated in nine spacewalks totaling 48 hours and 37 minutes. His expertise spans both Russian Orlan and American EMU spacesuits, and his contributions to the Commercial Crew Program have helped shape the future of spacecraft design and safety.
Yet, as Fincke himself put it, “Spaceflight is an incredible privilege, and sometimes it reminds us just how human we are.” His experience, and the response it prompted, may well inform future protocols for astronaut health and medical evacuation, especially as NASA looks toward even longer missions to the Moon and Mars. For now, Fincke is “doing very well and continuing standard post-flight reconditioning,” grateful for the support that brought him safely home—a quiet but significant moment in the ongoing story of human exploration.