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.
Fincke’s last day at the space agency is Wednesday, NASA said in a news release.
Although he is leaving NASA, Fincke said he remains “deeply committed to the work of exploration.”
“I am profoundly grateful to my crewmates, the teams on the ground, our international partners, and the families who make this work possible,” Fincke, who first joined the astronaut corps in 1996, said in a statement. “I am excited to carry those lessons forward and help prepare the next generation of engineers, explorers, and leaders. Together, we will return humanity to the Moon, travel to Mars, journey outward to the planets and moons beyond Earth, and someday reach for the stars – all while caring for Earth, the most beautiful planet in our solar system.”
Neither Fincke nor NASA provided details about what he plans to do next.
