HOUSTON — Veteran astronaut and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel E. Michael “Mike” Fincke has officially retired from NASA after three decades of service with the space agency.
Ranked as NASA’s fourth-most flown astronaut with 549 days accumulated in space, Fincke concludes a historic 30-year career that spanned four spaceflights, nine spacewalks, two terms as commander of the International Space Station (ISS), and experience piloting multiple generations of spacecraft.
A Three-Decade Career Spanning Four Spacecraft Generations
Selected as part of NASA’s 16th astronaut class in 1996, Fincke became one of only 13 human beings in history to launch into orbit aboard three distinct spacecraft types: the Russian Soyuz, the Space Shuttle, and the SpaceX Crew Dragon.
Over his career, Fincke accumulated 48 hours and 37 minutes across nine spacewalks—six of which were conducted using Russian Orlan spacesuits.
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Expedition 9 (2004): Served as NASA Science Officer and Flight Engineer aboard Soyuz TMA-4, logging four spacewalks during his initial six-month orbital mission.
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Expedition 18 (2008–2009): Commanded the ISS aboard Soyuz TMA-13, preparing the space station to transition to expanded six-person crew operations.
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STS-134 (2011): Served as Mission Specialist on the final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour, completing three additional spacewalks.
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SpaceX Crew-11 (2025–2026): Piloted the commercial crew launch to the ISS, serving as commander for Expedition 74 before returning to Earth in January 2026.
Mike Fincke NASA Career Fast Facts:
• Total Time in Space: 549 Days (4th All-Time for NASA)
• Spaceflights: 4 Missions (Expedition 9, Expedition 18, STS-134, Crew-11)
• Spacewalks: 9 EVAs (Totaling 48 Hours, 37 Minutes)
• Spacecraft Operated: Soyuz, Space Shuttle Endeavour, SpaceX Crew Dragon, Boeing Starliner
• Station Leadership: 2-Time ISS Commander (Expeditions 18 & 74)
Final Mission and Legacy in Space Exploration
Fincke’s final flight launched in August 2025 aboard SpaceX Crew-11. Following his return in January 2026, the veteran spacefarer announced his retirement, reflecting on three decades of scientific research, space station assembly, and international collaboration.
Statements from NASA Leadership and Fincke
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NASA Administrator Statement: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised Fincke’s contributions, stating that “few people have had the opportunity to shape as many chapters of NASA’s history as Mike Fincke”.
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Commitment to the Future: In a farewell statement, Fincke emphasized his continued dedication to human exploration, noting his intent to mentor the next generation of engineers and astronauts for future Artemis lunar and Mars missions.
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Johnson Space Center Recognition: Center leaders commended Fincke’s dual legacy as a pioneer of long-duration spaceflight and a key contributor to commercial crew development programs.
Shaping the Future of Human Spaceflight
As NASA shifts its operational focus toward the Artemis program and commercial space stations, Fincke’s 30-year legacy remains a cornerstone of modern astronaut training and long-duration orbital science.
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