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He suddenly couldn’t speak in space. NASA astronaut says his medical scare remains a mystery
Mike Fincke’s sudden speech loss aboard the ISS lasted 20 minutes, prompting NASA’s first medical evacuation and early crew return; cause remains under investigation.
- On Friday, astronaut Mike Fincke said doctors still do not know why he suddenly lost the ability to speak while aboard the International Space Station during an episode on Jan. 7.
- The episode struck like "a very, very fast lightning bolt" while Fincke was prepping for a spacewalk, lasting roughly 20 minutes as the retired Air Force colonel's crewmates gathered around him in distress.
- Doctors have ruled out a heart attack or choking, though they are investigating potential links to Fincke's 549 days of weightlessness; NASA is currently reviewing other astronauts' medical records for similar space-based occurrences.
- This incident forced the cancellation of a spacewalk and an early return to Earth for Fincke and crewmate Zena Cardman; NASA administrator Jared Isaacman later ordered the astronaut to stop apologizing for the disruption.
- Despite the ordeal, Fincke remains optimistic about returning to space one day, while NASA ensures other astronauts will not fear their medical privacy will be compromised if emergencies occur.
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39 Articles
39 Articles
He suddenly couldn't speak in space. NASA astronaut says his medical scare remains unsolved
The astronaut who prompted NASA’s first medical evacuation earlier this year said Friday that doctors still don’t know why he suddenly fell sick at the International Space Station.
·Washington, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources39
Leaning Left12Leaning Right5Center16Last UpdatedBias Distribution49% Center
Bias Distribution
- 49% of the sources are Center
49% Center
L 36%
C 49%
15%
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