NASA postponed a planned Thursday spacewalk after a crew member experienced a medical concern; the agency did not identify the astronaut. The scheduled spacewalk involved Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman — it would have been Cardman's first EVA and potentially Fincke's 10th. NASA said the situation is stable, cited medical privacy, and promised further updates including a new spacewalk date.
NASA Delays Spacewalk After Crew Medical Concern; Agency Says Situation Is Stable
A view of the International Space Station with Earth 265 miles below seen during a space walk on December 2, 2021. - NASA
NASA announced Wednesday that a spacewalk scheduled for Thursday has been postponed because of a "medical concern" involving one of the International Space Station crew members. The agency did not identify the astronaut or disclose details, citing medical privacy.
Official Statement
"Due to medical privacy, it is not appropriate for NASA to share more details about the crew member," the agency said in a statement. "The situation is stable. NASA will share additional details, including a new date for the upcoming spacewalk, later."
Who Was Assigned
Two NASA astronauts — Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman — had been scheduled to exit an ISS airlock to finish preparing a power channel where a new solar array is planned to be installed. The outing would have been Cardman's first spacewalk. Fincke, an astronaut since 1996, has completed nine previous spacewalks; another outing would make him the sixth American to reach 10 EVAs, NASA officials said.
Medical Privacy and Past Cases
NASA typically withholds identifying information about medical issues involving crew members. Broader findings about health effects from spaceflight are usually published later as part of scientific research rather than tied to a named individual. For example, Space Adaptation Syndrome — characterized by nausea and disorientation during the first hours in microgravity — became better understood only after years of study and peer-reviewed reports.
Researchers have also documented other in-flight medical events in academic journals, such as a reported case of jugular venous thrombosis, without revealing the astronaut's identity. In a separate incident after SpaceX's Crew-8 returned in October 2024, one crew member was treated at a Florida hospital; NASA said that crewmember was "in stable condition" and refrained from identifying the individual.
What Comes Next
NASA said the situation is stable and that it will provide further updates, including a rescheduled date for the postponed spacewalk, when appropriate. Mission operations and crew health remain priorities as the agency assesses next steps.
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