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 lasted about 20 minutes and left doctors uncertain about the cause.
- Fincke, a retired Air Force colonel with 549 days in space, was unable to talk during the incident but felt no pain, and doctors have ruled out a heart attack and choking.
- The medical event led to the cancellation of a planned spacewalk and an early return of three crew members to Earth via SpaceX on January 15, followed by hospital evaluations.
- NASA is reviewing other astronauts' medical records to identify any similar occurrences and is emphasizing the importance of medical privacy for crew members.
- Despite the incident, Fincke remains optimistic about returning to space and has been reassured by colleagues that the illness was an unpredictable space-related event, not a personal failure.
