NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke Departs After 30 Years, 549 Days in Space

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke is leaving the agency on Wednesday after a 30-year career that included four spaceflights, 549 days in space, and nine spacewalks. His departure was announced on August 12, 2026.

Fincke ranks fourth among NASA astronauts in total time in space, with his spacewalks totaling 48 hours and 37 minutes. Most recently, he piloted NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission, which launched in August 2025 and returned in January 2026, serving as flight engineer for Expedition 73 and commander of Expedition 74.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised Fincke’s contributions, saying few people have shaped as many chapters of NASA’s history. Fincke joined NASA’s 16th astronaut class in 1996 and first flew to space in 2004 aboard Soyuz TMA-4 for Expedition 9, where he performed four spacewalks. He returned in 2008 on Soyuz TMA-13 as commander of Expedition 18, completing two more spacewalks.

In 2011, Fincke flew on STS-134, the final flight of space shuttle Endeavour, completing three spacewalks and helping install the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. He also supported Boeing’s Crew Flight Test program for five years as a crew member and backup pilot, contributing to flight software, systems integration, and testing.

Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, said Fincke’s legacy of service and mentorship will inspire future generations. Scott Tingle, chief of the Astronaut Office, noted that Fincke’s experience across development, integration, and long-duration flight gave him an end-to-end perspective on space station operations.

Fincke, a native of Emsworth, Pennsylvania, holds degrees from MIT, Stanford University, and the University of Houston, Clear Lake. He is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel with more than 2,000 flight hours in over 30 aircraft types. In his farewell statement, Fincke said he remains committed to exploration and looks forward to helping prepare the next generation of engineers and explorers.