NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke's Medical Incident Leads to First ISS Evacuation

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, a veteran of four spaceflights, experienced an unexpected medical event aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on January 7, 2026. While preparing for a spacewalk, Fincke suddenly lost the ability to speak, though he felt no pain. The episode lasted approximately 20 minutes, after which he fully recovered. Despite extensive medical evaluations, including scans and tests both during the mission and after his premature return to Earth, the cause remains unclear. Heart issues and choking have been ruled out, but doctors continue to investigate potential links to the effects of prolonged weightlessness, as Fincke had spent over 549 days in space throughout his career.

The incident led to the cancellation of the planned spacewalk and an early return for Fincke and two other astronauts aboard a SpaceX capsule. SpaceX brought them back on January 15, more than a month early, and they went straight to the hospital.

Fincke expressed gratitude for the quick response of his crewmates and NASA’s support, and he remains optimistic about possibly returning to space in the future.