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He Suddenly Couldn't Speak in Space. NASA Astronaut Says His Medical Scare Remains a Mystery

Mike Fincke’s sudden speech loss aboard the ISS lasted 20 minutes, prompting NASA’s first medical evacuation and early crew return; cause remains under investigation.

  • On Friday, astronaut Mike Fincke said doctors still do not know why he suddenly lost the ability to speak while aboard the International Space Station during an episode on Jan. 7.
  • The episode struck like "a very, very fast lightning bolt" while Fincke was prepping for a spacewalk, lasting roughly 20 minutes as the retired Air Force colonel's crewmates gathered around him in distress.
  • Doctors have ruled out a heart attack or choking, though they are investigating potential links to Fincke's 549 days of weightlessness; NASA is currently reviewing other astronauts' medical records for similar space-based occurrences.
  • This incident forced the cancellation of a spacewalk and an early return to Earth for Fincke and crewmate Zena Cardman; NASA administrator Jared Isaacman later ordered the astronaut to stop apologizing for the disruption.
  • Despite the ordeal, Fincke remains optimistic about returning to space one day, while NASA ensures other astronauts will not fear their medical privacy will be compromised if emergencies occur.
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He suddenly couldn't speak in space. NASA astronaut says his medical scare remains a mystery

The astronaut who prompted NASA's first medical evacuation earlier this year says doctors still don't know why he suddenly fell sick at the International Space Station.

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Krem2 News broke the news in Spokane, United States on Friday, March 27, 2026.
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