NASA veteran identifies himself as mystery crew member in space health scare

After weeks of speculation, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke has stepped forward to identify himself as the crew member who suffered a "medical event" aboard the International Space Station.

The incident, which occurred on 7 January, famously forced the Crew-11 mission to conclude earlier than planned.

While NASA initially kept the details private, Fincke released a heartfelt statement on Wednesday, acknowledging the scare and praising the swift actions of his colleagues and flight surgeons.

The veteran astronaut explained that his condition required immediate care that simply wasn't available in orbit. “On Jan. 7, while aboard the International Space Station, I experienced a medical event that required immediate attention from my incredible crewmates," Fincke stated.

He clarified that the return was not an "emergency" but a strategic move to access advanced imaging on Earth. Consequently, the team splashed down near San Diego on 15 January, marking the first time in the history of the ISS that a mission was cut short for medical reasons.

Fincke, who spent 167 days in space alongside Zena Cardman, Kimiya Yui, and Oleg Platonov, is now recovering well in Texas.

“I’m doing very well and continuing standard post-flight reconditioning at NASA’S Johnson Space Center in Houston," he confirmed.

Reflecting on the fragility of life even in the cosmos, he added: "Spaceflight is an incredible privilege, and sometimes it reminds us just how human we are."

His recovery remains on track, and he has expressed immense gratitude for the global support received during this unprecedented journey home.