Michael Fincke

Michael Fincke, born on March 14, 1967, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a distinguished American astronaut and retired United States Air Force colonel. He proudly considers the suburb of Emsworth his hometown. With a remarkable career that spans multiple fields, Fincke has established himself as a leading figure in space exploration, planetary geology, and military aviation.

As an active NASA astronaut, Fincke has made significant contributions to the International Space Station (ISS) program. He is a veteran of three long-duration missions aboard the ISS, serving as a flight engineer on Expedition 9, and later taking command of Expedition 18. He also played a crucial role as a flight engineer on Expedition 73 and commander of Expedition 74. In addition to his ISS missions, he participated in the Space Shuttle program as a mission specialist on STS-134.

Fincke's impressive spaceflight record includes spending a total of five hundred forty-nine days in space, ranking him fourth among NASA astronauts for the most time spent in orbit. He has completed nine spacewalks, accumulating forty-eight hours and thirty-seven minutes of extravehicular activity (EVA) time, with six of those spacewalks conducted in a Russian Orlan spacesuit, showcasing his versatility and adaptability in various environments.

In preparation for future missions, Fincke has been certified as a pilot for both the Boeing Starliner and SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. He also serves as a co-pilot and flight engineer on the Soyuz spacecraft, further demonstrating his extensive skill set and commitment to advancing human spaceflight.