NASA astronaut Mike Fincke is departing the agency on Wednesday after 30 years of service, according to NASA. The departure comes several months after his final mission, SpaceX Crew-11, was cut short due to a medical emergency on the International Space Station.
NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke Departs After 30 Years
Fincke joined NASA’s 16th astronaut class in 1996 and completed four spaceflights during his career. He spent a total of 549 days in space and ranks fourth among NASA astronauts in accumulated time in orbit. His career also included nine spacewalks totaling 48 hours and 37 minutes.
Few people have had the opportunity to shape as many chapters of NASA’s history as Mike Fincke,
said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman in a statement provided by NASA. Over a remarkable career, Mike served our nation as a pilot, engineer, astronaut, and mentor.
Medical Emergency in Space Cuts Crew-11 Mission Short
During his most recent mission aboard the International Space Station, Fincke experienced an unexpected medical incident when he was unable to speak for approximately 20 minutes. According to Spectrum News 13, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman initially described the event as a serious medical condition.
Doctors determined that Fincke did not have a heart attack and was not choking, though NASA and medical researchers continue to investigate the cause of the incident. Fincke noted in a statement that the agency decided the crew should return to Earth to utilize advanced medical imaging unavailable on the space station.
The emergency prompted an early return for Crew-11, which launched in August 2025 and splashed down in a middle-of-the-night return near San Diego, California, on January 15, 2026, as reported by Ctvnews. Fincke returned alongside fellow Crew-11 members Zena Cardman of NASA, Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, according to Mezha.
The early return marked the first time NASA brought a crew back early from the space station due to a participant’s health condition. The situation also forced operational adjustments, including the cancellation of a planned spacewalk and an accelerated launch for the subsequent Crew-12 mission, which arrived at the station on February 14.
A Historic Career in Spaceflight
Before his final mission, Fincke accumulated an extensive flight and military background. A retired U.S. Air Force colonel and graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, he flew multiple spacecraft types throughout his career. He is one of the few people to fly aboard a Space Shuttle, a Russian Soyuz, and a SpaceX Falcon 9 Dragon.
His historical flight assignments include:
- Soyuz TMA-4 (2004): Served as science officer and flight engineer for Expedition 9, performing four spacewalks.
- Soyuz TMA-13 (2008): Commanded Expedition 18, preparing the station for six-person crews and completing two spacewalks.
- STS-134 (2011): Flew as mission specialist and robotic arm operator on the final flight of space shuttle Endeavour, delivering and installing the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer during three spacewalks.
- SpaceX Crew-11 (2025–2026): Served as a flight engineer for Expedition 73 and commander of Expedition 74 before returning early.
Reflecting on his departure, Fincke expressed gratitude for his time at the agency in a statement published by Spectrum News 13: After exactly 30 years, I am departing NASA, but I remain deeply committed to the work of exploration.
Neither Fincke nor NASA has announced his future professional plans.
