Mike Fincke, NASA Astronaut Whose Health Scare Led to I.S.S. Evacuation, Has Retired

Mike Fincke spent 459 days in space across four missions, the fourth most time of any NASA astronaut.

The top 3

First Medical Evacuation from ISS (2026): In January 2026, a medical issue with astronaut Mike Fincke led to the first-ever medical evacuation from the ISS, with Fincke and three other Crew-11 astronauts returning to Earth early in a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
2013 Ammonia Coolant Leak: In May 2013, astronauts on the ISS discovered an ammonia coolant leak from the station's truss structure, which required an urgent spacewalk to replace a pump controller box.
2026 Zvezda Service Module Air Leak: In June 2026, a worsening air leak in Russia's Zvezda service module prompted NASA to order astronauts to shelter in a docked SpaceX Crew Dragon out of caution, though the situation was later reassessed and repairs were underway.