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.

Astronaut Mike Fincke announced he was retiring Wednesday following 30 years of service and 549 days in space, the fourth most among NASA astronauts.

Mike Fincke, the NASA astronaut with the fourth highest accumulated space time — at 549 days — has retired, the agency announced Wednesday. Fincke flew four missions with the agency and embarked on over 48 hours of space walks, according to NASA. Months before his retirement, he also became the first astronaut in NASA’

Longtime NASA astronaut Mike Fincke is stepping away from his role at the space agency. The news comes months after he experienced a medical emergency aboard the International Space Station, which forced a premature end to the journey for him and three crewmates.

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke leaves agency months after medical emergency in space  CNN

A device currently being used to help octogenarians do self-administered eye exams could be part of future space missions to monitor astronauts’ ocular health.