He suddenly couldn't speak in space. NASA astronaut says his medical scare remains a mystery
KSL.com • • science
Key Points:
- Astronaut Mike Fincke experienced a sudden, unexplained medical episode on the International Space Station on January 7, prompting NASA's first-ever medical evacuation from space.
- The 20-minute incident involved Fincke losing the ability to speak without pain, leading crewmates to urgently seek ground medical assistance; doctors have ruled out a heart attack and choking as causes.
- Despite extensive testing and NASA reviewing other astronauts' medical records, the exact cause remains unknown, with possible links to the effects of prolonged weightlessness.
- The medical event led to the cancellation of a planned spacewalk and an early return to Earth for Fincke and three crewmates aboard a SpaceX mission.
- Fincke, a four-time space veteran, expressed hope for future missions and emphasized the importance of astronaut medical privacy following the incident.
