NASA Astronaut Reveals He Was Behind First Space Med Evac

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke has revealed he was the crew member whose health scare prompted the first-ever medical evacuation from space.

The 58-year-old veteran astronaut fell ill last month aboard the International Space Station, forcing the SpaceX mission to end about a week early on January 15.

In a written statement, Fincke said his condition stabilized quickly thanks to his crewmates and ground doctors, but the situation was serious enough to cancel a scheduled spacewalk and rush the crew to a hospital in San Diego after splashdown.

Fincke did not disclose the nature of his illness but noted the station’s ultrasound device was helpful.

A retired Air Force colonel who joined the astronaut corps in 1996, Fincke has spent 549 days in space over four missions.

He confirmed he is now in good health, adding, “Spaceflight is a tremendous honor, and sometimes it reminds us how human we are.”