Get you up to speed: NASA discloses medical incident details prompting historic ISS evacuation
NASA MEDICAL EVACUATION
NASA reported the first medical evacuation from the ISS after astronaut Mike Fincke required advanced medical imaging unavailable in orbit.
NASA RESPONSE
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the medical evacuation was a serious situation, but Fincke’s safety was prioritized throughout the coordinated response.
STATUS UPDATE
NASA has resumed normal operations aboard the ISS following the return of Crew-11 on 15 January and the arrival of four new astronauts in February.
What we know so far
NASA has revealed details of an incident aboard the ISS that prompted the first medical evacuation in the space station’s 25-year history.
On 7 January, astronaut Mike Fincke “experienced a medical event that required immediate attention from my incredible crewmates”, according to a statement by him, which NASA shared online.
“Thanks to their quick response and the guidance of our NASA flight surgeons, my status quickly stabilized”, wrote the astronaut.
NASA decided the safest course of action was to bring him and the other three members of Crew-11 back from the International Space Station so Mr. Fincke could have advanced medical imaging, that was not available on the ISS.
“[It was] not an emergency but a carefully coordinated plan,” said Mr. Fincke.
The crew, which also included fellow NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, splashed down on 15 January after spending five and a half months on the space station.
As well as thanking his crew, NASA and SpaceX’s team, and his doctors, Mr. Fincke said he is doing “very well and continuing standard post-flight reconditioning” at NASA’s base in Houston.
“Spaceflight is an incredible privilege and sometimes it reminds us just how human we are,” he said.
After the crew returned to Earth in January, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said it was a “serious situation” in orbit but that the crew member in question had been safe and stable ever since.
The evacuation left only three crew members on board the space station – one American and two Russians – and prompted NASA to pause space walks and reduce research output.
They were joined by four new astronauts in February and normal service has resumed.