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Astronaut Lt. Colonel Michael Fincke Attends Reunion Via Space Link

Edward Michael “Mike” Fincke '89: June 5, 2004; Running Time: 15:49

About the Lecture

About the Lecture

Nothing could stop Mike Fincke (MIT ’89) from joining his 15th reunion – not even a 200-mile-high earth orbit. Fincke began a six-month stint as science officer and flight engineer on Expedition 9 to the International Space Station (ISS) in April 2004, and stole a few moments from his hectic schedule to greet fellow alumni. In addition to discussing the mission’s science, which includes examining fluids in a microgravity environment, and working with tiny space satellites that might one day help astronauts perform routine maintenance, Fincke extols international collaboration on the ISS. “MIT set me up nicely to be ready for this next wave of globalization… Our Russian, European and Japanese partners will help expand human presence in the skies, on the way to the moon and stars.”

Lecture Details

Location: Kresge Auditorium

“Fincke: (from the International Space Station) I’d like to check our mics, can you hear me? Vest: We can hear you very well.
Fincke: When we were setting this up with NASA they were wondering if we’d be able to get good audio and video, and I can see you guys great and I’m glad you guys can hear me. And I said if anybody can do great audio and video, it's MIT. So thank you very much.
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Lt. Colonel Mike Fincke \'89

About the Speaker

Edward Michael “Mike” Fincke '89

Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force

Fincke attended MIT on an Air Force ROTC scholarship and graduated with a B.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics as well as a B.S. in Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences in 1989. After graduation, Fincke attended a summer exchange program with the Moscow Aviation Institute, where he studied Cosmonautics. He then entered the Air Force, where he served as a space systems engineer and a space test engineer. NASA selected Fincke in April 1996. He was a backup crewmember for ISS Expeditions 4 and 6. He blasted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on April 18, 2004, in a Soyuz rocket for ISS Expedition 9. Fincke received two USAF Commendation Medals, and a USAF Achievement Medal. He also earned an M.S. from Stanford University in Aeronautics and Astronautics and a second M.S. in Planetary Geology from the University of Houston.