Mike Fincke

Mike Fincke is a NASA astronaut who recently served as the captain of Crew 11 on the International Space Station (ISS). He is newsworthy because he and his crew, including NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, Japan's Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, were part of the first-ever medical evacuation from the ISS. Their mission was cut short by approximately a month due to a 'serious' but undisclosed medical issue affecting one of the crew members. The early return also led to the cancellation of a planned spacewalk. The crew returned to Earth via a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, splashing down off the coast of California. The use of a portable ultrasound machine on the ISS was noted as being critical during the medical crisis. This event highlights the challenges and complexities of long-duration space missions and the importance of medical preparedness in space.