NASA’s Mike Fincke identified himself Wednesday as the astronaut whose medical condition prompted the space agency’s first medical evacuation.
In a written statement, the 58-year-old spaceflight veteran revealed he was the ailing crew member last month aboard the International Space Station. He did not say what was wrong with him but explained that his condition quickly stabilized thanks to his crewmates and flight surgeons on the ground.
Fincke said he’s doing well now.
“Spaceflight is an incredible privilege, and sometimes it reminds us just how human we are,” he said in the statement.
Fincke launched with three others on a SpaceX flight last summer. Their mission came to an early end on Jan. 15, a week after he experienced what he called a “medical event that required immediate attention" by his fellow astronauts. The health concern also forced the cancellation of a planned spacewalk by Fincke and another NASA astronaut.
Following their splashdown in the Pacific, all four astronauts were taken to a San Diego hospital. They flew home to Houston the next day.
With the sick astronaut's identity still a secret, Fincke said at a news conference a week after returning that the space station's ultrasound machine came in handy during the medical crisis.
He elaborated Wednesday, stressing that his situation was not an emergency but that everyone wanted “to take advantage of advanced medical imaging not available on the space station.”
Fincke, a retired Air Force colonel who became an astronaut in 1996, has logged 549 days in space over four missions.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
FILE - In his image provided by NASA, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke is helped out of the SpaceX Crew-11 capsule after they re-entered the Earth in a middle-of-the-night splashdown near San Diego, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP, File)
Atalanta converted a penalty with the last kick of the game in the eighth minute of stoppage time following a video review to beat Borussia Dortmund 4-1 and secure a place in the round of 16 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Lazar Samardzic’s spot kick clinched a dramatic 4-3 win on aggregate for Atalanta, ensuring there will still be Italian representation in Europe’s top club competition.
Extra time was looming when a mistake by Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel allowed Atalanta to launch one last attack, after the allotted three minutes of stoppage time had been played. A cross into the area was about to reach the head of Nikola Krstovic when Dortmund defender Remy Bensabaini flicked out his boot and caught the Atalanta substitute on the head, drawing blood.
A corner was initially given but after a VAR check, a penalty was awarded, Bensabaini was shown a second yellow card, and Samardzic sent his penalty into the top corner, sparking joyous scenes inside the stadium in Bergamo.
Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, Atalanta replied through Gianluca Scamacca and Davide Zappacosta in the first half, before Mario Pašalić headed in the third in the 57th minute to put the hosts ahead on aggregate.
Karim Adeyemi came off the bench to make it 3-3 on aggregate but there was time for late drama.
Italy’s record of having at least one team in the round of 16 since that stage was reintroduced to the Champions League in 2003-04 was under threat after Serie A champion Napoli didn’t even make the playoffs after finishing in 30th place in the 36-team league phase and Inter Milan was eliminated by tiny Norwegian team Bodø/Glimt in the playoffs on Tuesday.
That left Atalanta and Juventus, which trails Galatasaray 5-2 heading into a home second leg later Wednesday.
Atalanta is back in the last 16 for the first time since the 2020-21 season and will play either Arsenal or Bayern Munich. The draw is on Friday.
Later, Vinícius Júnior and Real Madrid are set for what's likely to be an emotionally charged return match with Benfica.
Madrid holds a 1-0 lead over Benfica from last week's first leg, which was overshadowed by Vinícius' allegation that opponent Gianluca Prestianni called him “monkey” after the Brazil forward scored and celebrated by the home corner flag.
Prestianni has denied racially insulting Vinícius while confronting him with his jersey over his mouth, but will not play Wednesday’s game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium after being provisionally banned for one match by UEFA.
Madrid is looking to maintain its record of playing in the round of 16 every year this century.
Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain leads Monaco 3-2 in an all-French matchup, having fought back from being 2-0 down inside 20 minutes of the first leg.
Bodø/Glimt, Atletico Madrid, Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen all advanced on Tuesday.
Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
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PSG's Goncalo Ramos, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's third goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Metz in Paris, France, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior argues with Benfica's head coach José Mourinho after scoring the opening goal during a Champions League playoff soccer match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid in Lisbon, Portugal, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Rocha)
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior argues with referee François Letexier after scoring the opening goal during a Champions League playoff soccer match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid in Lisbon, Portugal, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Rocha)
