Astronaut says his sudden medical scare in space remains a mystery
AP News • • science
Key Points:
- Astronaut Mike Fincke experienced a sudden, unexplained medical episode on the International Space Station on January 7, which led to NASA's first medical evacuation from the station earlier this year.
- The episode lasted about 20 minutes, during which Fincke lost the ability to speak but felt no pain, and doctors have ruled out a heart attack or choking as causes.
- Fincke's crewmates acted quickly to assist him, and the incident resulted in the cancellation of a planned spacewalk and the early return of three crew members to Earth.
- NASA continues to investigate the cause, reviewing other astronauts' medical records, but Fincke has not disclosed further details to protect medical privacy.
- Despite the incident, Fincke remains optimistic about his health and hopes to return to space in the future.
