NASA astronaut Mike Fincke has retired from the agency after a thirty-year career. Fincke, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and test pilot, leaves behind a record of 549 days in space, which stands as the fourth-highest duration among American astronauts.
Throughout his time with NASA, Fincke completed four spaceflight missions and logged over 48 hours of spacewalks. He served in multiple roles including commander, flight engineer, and mission specialist. His career spanned from the early assembly of the International Space Station to serving as a leader in orbit.
Earlier this year, Fincke was involved in an evacuation from the International Space Station. He piloted the SpaceX Crew-11 mission, which returned to Earth a month ahead of schedule after he experienced a medical issue. Fincke confirmed he suffered a brief loss of speech for about 20 minutes, though doctors were unable to identify a specific cause for the incident after extensive testing. He stated he believes the event was related to his time in space.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman honored Fincke for his contributions to the agency. Fincke remains a highly regarded figure for his technical background and his commitment to the development of modern spacecraft. He departs after three decades of service, leaving a legacy marked by resilience and dedication to space exploration.