Astronaut says his sudden medical scare in space remains a mystery NASA astronaut Mike Fincke described his unexpected medical episode during a spacewalk as a mystery, with doctors still unable to determine the cause. The incident occurred on January 7, 2026, while Fincke was eating dinner and preparing for a spacewalk. He suddenly lost the ability to speak, experienced no pain, and his crewmates quickly responded by alerting flight surgeons on Earth. The event lasted about 20 minutes, and Fincke reported feeling fine afterward. He said the episode was “completely out of the blue” and likened its suddenness to “a very, very fast lightning bolt.” Fincke, a retired Air Force colonel and four-time space flyer, was 5½ months into his stay on the International Space Station when the incident occurred. Doctors ruled out a heart attack and confirmed he was not choking, but no definitive explanation has emerged. He attributed the event to his 549 days of weightlessness, though the exact cause remains unclear. The space station’s onboard ultrasound machine was used during the incident, and Fincke has undergone extensive medical tests since returning to Earth. NASA is reviewing medical records of other astronauts to check if similar incidents have occurred in space. Fincke identified himself as the astronaut who fell ill late last month, ending public speculation about the event. He expressed regret over the incident causing the cancellation of his 10th spacewalk and forcing crewmate Zena Cardman—her first spacewalk—to return to Earth early. The crew was brought back on January 15, more than a month ahead of schedule, and immediately taken to the hospital. Fincke emphasized that he had been “very lucky to be super healthy” and found the episode “very surprising for everyone.#nasa #international_space_station #jared_isaacman #mike_fincke #zena_cardman
NASA plans to build a $20 billion moon base using components from a canceled lunar orbit station while advancing a nuclear-powered mission to Mars, according to a major shift in its Artemis program. The U.S. space agency, led by Administrator Jared Isaacman, announced the changes during a high-profile event in Washington, emphasizing a revised strategy to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon before China’s planned 2030 lunar landing. The decision to abandon the Lunar Gateway space station—largely constructed by contractors Northrop Grumman and Intuitive Machines—marks a significant pivot. Instead of using the station as a hub for lunar missions, NASA will repurpose its components to construct a surface base on the moon. Isaacman described the approach as a “revised step-by-step method” to reduce risks and build expertise, drawing parallels to the Apollo program’s success in the 1960s. The moon base will include robotic landers, drones, and infrastructure for nuclear power, which NASA aims to deploy in the coming years. A key component of the plan is the launch of a nuclear-powered spacecraft called Space Reactor 1 Freedom to Mars by the end of 2028. This mission, NASA claims, will demonstrate advanced nuclear electric propulsion and deploy helicopters for exploration. The agency highlighted the project as a critical step in applying nuclear technology to deep-space missions. Meanwhile, the canceled Lunar Gateway was intended to serve as a research platform and transfer station for astronauts traveling to the moon’s surface. Isaacman acknowledged the challenges of repurposing the Gateway, noting uncertainty about the future roles of key international partners like Japan, Canada, and the European Space Agency. These nations had previously contributed components to the orbital station.#nasa #artemis_program #northrop_grumman #jared_isaacman #intuitive_machines
NASA Unveils Initiatives to Achieve America’s National Space Policy NASA announced a series of agencywide initiatives during its “Ignition” event, aimed at fulfilling President Donald J. Trump’s National Space Policy and reinforcing American leadership in space. The agency emphasized the urgency of the mission, highlighting the need for rapid progress in lunar exploration, scientific discovery, and the development of a sustainable presence on the Moon. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stressed that the agency must align its efforts with the national imperative, ensuring that resources are focused on achieving the goals outlined in the policy. He noted that the competition for space dominance requires decisive action, with outcomes measured in months rather than years. The initiatives include a renewed focus on returning to the Moon before the end of President Trump’s term, establishing a permanent base, and ensuring American leadership in space exploration. NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya outlined the agency’s strategy, which involves a phased approach to lunar operations. This includes shifting to a focused architecture for Moon missions, building capabilities incrementally, and collaborating with international partners. In low Earth orbit, NASA plans to transition from government-led operations to a competitive commercial ecosystem, leveraging the International Space Station as a foundation for future developments. The agency also aims to open the lunar surface to researchers and students, while advancing nuclear propulsion technology through projects like Space Reactor-1 Freedom. The Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon, has seen updates to its timeline and objectives.#nasa #international_space_station #artemis_program #jared_isaacman #amit_kshatriya
NASA announces new Mars mission, reshapes goals on the moon NASA’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, unveiled a transformative vision for the space agency during an event in Washington, D.C., outlining ambitious plans to accelerate lunar exploration and launch a groundbreaking Mars mission. The announcement marks a shift in NASA’s priorities, emphasizing a timeline and roadmap for establishing a permanent moon base while setting a 2028 deadline for a nuclear-powered Mars vehicle. Isaacman emphasized that the moon base will require significant investment, with NASA allocating approximately $20 billion over the next seven years. The project will be developed through a series of missions, with the goal of creating a sustainable habitat for astronauts. However, the exact allocation of funds and how much of the budget will be diverted from existing projects remains unclear. A key component of the plan is the shelving of the Gateway lunar space station, a joint international project intended to serve as a hub for lunar and deep-space missions. Instead, NASA will repurpose existing Gateway components to support the lunar base. Carlos Garcia-Galan, NASA’s Moon Base program executive, noted that “significant parts of exiting Gateway hardware and facilities can be directly repurposed” to aid in near-term exploration. The agency also aims to increase the frequency of robotic landers delivering cargo and scientific instruments to the moon, targeting monthly landings. This effort will complement NASA’s Artemis program, which seeks to return astronauts to the lunar surface by early 2028. The first crewed Artemis mission, Artemis II, is scheduled to launch in April 2026, with a planned uncrewed lunar orbit as a test.#nasa #artemis_program #jared_isaacman #gateway_lunar_space_station #blue_origin
