Veteran NASA astronaut Mike Fincke has confirmed that he was the crew member who had a concerning “medical event” that led to an early exit from the International Space Station last month. The group’s sudden departure marked the first time in history NASA had to cut short an ISS staffing mission for health reasons. At the time, the space agency did not disclose which astronaut had the medical concern or reveal the nature of the issue. “I experienced a medical event that required immediate attention from my incredible crewmates,” Fincke said in a statement on Wednesday. But it’s still not clear whether the medical event amounted to a life-threatening emergency or how Fincke’s crewmates were able to address the issue.

Source: CNN February 25, 2026 22:59 UTC