Mike Finken, the NASA astronaut who prompted NASA to perform a medical evacuation from the space station earlier this year, said doctors have yet to determine the cause of his sudden illness.
On January 7, during lunch, Finken was unable to speak but felt no pain. His teammates responded immediately, calling for help from doctors on Earth. The episode lasted about 20 minutes, and Finken felt fine afterward.
Doctors have ruled out cardiac arrest and drowning. Finken believes the condition may have been related to his 549 days in weightlessness.
SpaceX returned him from the space station on January 15, ahead of schedule, and he was immediately hospitalized. Finke has undergone a series of tests on Earth, and NASA is reviewing the medical records of other astronauts to identify similar cases.
Finke said his illness disrupted his planned flight, and he hopes to return to space one day.
