Astronaut reveals he is the one whose medical issue led to crew’s early return

Astronaut Mike Fincke said in a statement released by NASA on Wednesday that he was the one who suffered a medical issue that caused Crew-11 to return early from the International Space Station last month.

“While aboard the International Space Station on January 7, I experienced a medical event that required immediate attention from my incredible crewmates. Thanks to their rapid response and guidance from our NASA flight surgeons, my condition quickly stabilized,” Fincke said in the statement.

“After further evaluation, NASA determined that the safest route was an early return of Crew-11; not an emergency, but a carefully coordinated plan to take advantage of advanced medical imaging not available on the space station. On January 15, we touched down off the coast of San Diego after a spectacular five-and-a-half-month mission,” he added.

Fincke did not disclose the nature of the medical problem but said he was in good condition.

“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 La Jolla Scripps Memorial Hospital near San Diego. Their professionalism and dedication ensured a positive outcome,” he said.

ASTRONAUTS ARRIVED AT ISS FOR 8-MONTH MISSION AFTER MEDICAL EMERGENCY MANDATORY EARLY EVACUATION

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft, carrying NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aeronautical Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station at Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on August 1, 2025. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)

“I am doing very well and continuing standard post-flight refurbishment at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Spaceflight is an incredible privilege and sometimes reminds us of how human we are. Thank you all for your support,” the astronaut added.

NASA noted Last month, the SpaceX Crew-11 mission returned to Earth nearly a month earlier than planned due to a medical issue with a crew member.

NASA MADE A ‘UNIQUE’ CALL TO BRING ASTRONAUTS HOME AFTER ILLNESS, EXPERT: ‘HE WAS EVACUATED FROM ORBIT’

Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov (left), NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui are seen inside the SpaceX Dragon Endeavor spacecraft aboard the SpaceX recovery ship SHANNON shortly after touching down in the Pacific Ocean off Long Beach, California, on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

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Besides Fincke, NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov were also on board.

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