NASA astronaut Mike Fincke retires after 30-year career

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke has retired from the agency after a 30-year career. Fincke, who spent a total of 549 days in space—the fourth-highest among NASA astronauts—is one of only 13 individuals to have launched aboard three different spacecraft types: the Russian Soyuz, the Space Shuttle, and SpaceX’s Dragon.

His retirement follows a notable medical emergency during his final mission, the SpaceX Crew-11 voyage. In January, Fincke experienced a sudden episode where he lost the ability to speak for approximately 20 minutes while eating dinner on the International Space Station. While testing ruled out a stroke or heart attack, the incident necessitated the first medical evacuation from the ISS in its 25-year history.

The emergency forced Fincke and his three crewmates—Zena Cardman, Kimiya Yui, and Oleg Platonov—to return to Earth earlier than planned, leaving the station with a reduced crew of three. Fincke stated he intends to use his experience to help prepare the next generation of explorers and leaders.