Crew 11 was brought back to Earth early. (archive photo)Image: keystone / John Raoux / AP
In January, NASA recalled a crew for the first time in ISS history because of a medical problem. For privacy reasons, information remained scarce. Now the astronaut identifies himself.
February 26, 2026, 7:03 p.mFebruary 26, 2026, 7:03 p.m
After the first early repatriation due to a medical problem in the history of the International Space Station (ISS), the affected astronaut identified himself for the first time. US astronaut Mike Fincke said via the US space agency Nasa that it was he whose medical problem prompted the return operation. It was the fourth space flight for the 58-year-old experienced astronaut.
The problem occurred on January 7th and required immediate attention from other crew members, it said. As a result – and through the guidance of the ground staff – his status has stabilized. He is now doing “very well” again. Fincke did not provide further details about the medical problem.
Together with his crew colleagues – US astronaut Zena Cardman, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonow – Fincke returned to Earth early in mid-January after around five months on board the ISS (Watson reported). Actually, the so-called Crew 11 should have stayed around a month longer. For privacy reasons, NASA did not initially identify the affected crew member.
(sda/dpa)