Space Station Sickness: A Mystery Unfolds

A 59‑year‑old former Air Force officer, who has flown to space four times, told a news agency that he suddenly became ill while eating dinner on the International Space Station. The incident happened just days before a planned spacewalk, and his crew reacted immediately, calling for ground‑based medical support. He said the episode lasted about twenty minutes. During that time he could not speak and did not feel any pain, but his teammates saw him in distress and surrounded him. They activated the station’s emergency protocols and used an onboard ultrasound to assess his condition. After returning to Earth, doctors ruled out a heart attack and confirmed he was not choking. However, the cause of his sudden illness remains unknown. The astronaut noted that it could be linked to the long period—more than 549 days—of living in microgravity, which can affect many bodily systems.The space agency is reviewing medical records of other astronauts to determine whether similar events have occurred elsewhere. The astronaut also emphasized the importance of protecting crew members’ medical privacy, so they can perform their duties without fear of personal information being exposed. The unexpected sickness forced the cancellation of a planned spacewalk that would have been his tenth. It also prompted an early return for the crew, who were flown back by a commercial space company and received hospital care shortly after landing. Despite the surprise and the challenges, he expressed optimism about returning to space in the future. He credits his overall health for surviving the episode and says that the incident was a reminder of how unpredictable space can be.