After he suddenly couldn't speak in space, Pittsburgh astronaut says his medical scare remains a mystery
CBS News • • science
Key Points:
- Astronaut Mike Fincke experienced a sudden, unexplained medical episode at the International Space Station on January 7, which prompted NASA's first-ever medical evacuation from the station earlier this year.
- The 59-year-old, with 549 days in space and nine spacewalks, lost the ability to speak briefly but felt no pain, and doctors have ruled out a heart attack and choking as causes.
- The incident lasted about 20 minutes, and despite extensive testing and NASA reviewing other astronauts' medical records, the exact cause remains unknown, possibly linked to long-term weightlessness.
- Fincke expressed regret that his illness canceled a planned spacewalk and led to an early return for three crewmates, but NASA leadership has reassured him that the episode was not his fault.
- He remains optimistic about returning to space in the future, emphasizing the importance of astronaut medical privacy and transparency about the incident.
