Mystery medical episode that left astronaut unable to speak shows one of NASA's biggest risks as moon missions ramp up A sudden medical emergency aboard the International Space Station (ISS) involving veteran astronaut Michael Fincke has raised concerns about the health risks astronauts face during long-duration space missions. The incident, which occurred in January 2026, left Fincke temporarily unable to speak and prompted NASA’s first-ever medical evacuation from the orbiting laboratory. While doctors ruled out a heart attack, the exact cause of the event remains unknown, highlighting the challenges of diagnosing and treating medical issues in space. Fincke, who was part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission, experienced the episode while eating dinner after preparing for a spacewalk. He described the event as sudden and brief, lasting approximately 20 minutes, with no accompanying pain. His crewmates quickly recognized his distress and alerted flight surgeons on Earth, who coordinated the emergency response. NASA used the ISS’s onboard ultrasound machine during the incident and is now reviewing medical records to determine if similar events have occurred in past missions. The episode forced NASA to cancel the next day’s spacewalk and bring Fincke and his three crewmates home early on January 15, 2026. While Fincke reported feeling fine afterward, the incident has drawn attention to the risks of prolonged space travel, particularly as NASA prepares for the Artemis II mission, which aims to send four astronauts on a 10-day lunar flyby in April 2026. The event underscores the need for robust medical systems and contingency plans for emergencies that could arise during extended missions beyond Earth’s orbit.#nasa #international_space_station #artemis_ii #michael_fincke #jaxa
NASA Evacuates Astronauts Early Due to Sudden Speech Loss NASA evacuated astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) earlier than planned in January 2026 after one crew member abruptly lost the ability to speak. This unprecedented medical evacuation has sparked discussions about handling health emergencies in space, where medical resources are limited. The incident marks the first “controlled medical evacuation” from space in over six decades of human spaceflight. The affected astronaut, veteran NASA commander Michael Fincke, was eating dinner when he suddenly became unable to speak for approximately 20 minutes. He reported no pain, but his crewmates observed his distress. The crew immediately alerted flight surgeons on Earth, leading to the cancellation of a scheduled spacewalk and a rapid medical assessment by NASA. The abrupt loss of speech, without visible injury or discomfort, raised significant concerns among medical professionals. On Earth, sudden speech loss is often a warning sign of a stroke or other neurological issues. However, in space, where access to hospitals, brain scans, and advanced treatments is nonexistent, such symptoms pose a heightened risk. NASA’s medical team emphasized that Fincke remained stable but decided to prioritize his health over completing the mission. The evacuation shortened the Crew-11 mission by about a month, bringing the Dragon capsule back to Earth for a full medical evaluation. NASA’s decision to act swiftly was driven by the uncertainty surrounding the cause of Fincke’s episode. Waiting for potential complications to arise later in the mission would have made evacuation more challenging. The agency has stated that the long-term health of astronauts takes precedence over mission schedules.#nasa #international_space_station #michael_fincke #crew_11 #dragon_capsule
