Two decades after capturing hearts with a traditional Assamese Bihu dance in zero gravity, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke is back aboard the International Space Station as part of SpaceX’s Crew-11 mission.
Launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on August 1, Fincke and his multinational crew docked with the ISS early August 2. The mission includes fellow astronauts Zena Cardman (NASA), Kimiya Yui (JAXA), and Oleg Platonov (Roscosmos), and is scheduled to last six months. Their work supports ongoing research for future missions to the Moon and Mars under NASA’s Artemis program.
A Cultural Moment in Orbit
Mike Fincke first made headlines in 2004 when he performed the traditional Assamese Bihu dance aboard the ISS, wearing a red-and-white gamusa around his neck. The moment was both a celebration of culture and a rare blend of heritage and space exploration.
Fincke’s connection to Assam comes through his wife, Renita Saikia, a NASA official originally from the Indian state. The couple shares three children: Chandra, Tarali, and Surya. In fact, Fincke made history as the first astronaut to become a father while in space.
Inspiring the Next Generation
During a visit to Assam in 2009, Fincke encouraged students to dream big. “This should not be the last Bihu in space,” he said. “There should be somebody from you to dance Bihu in space.”
Now, 20 years later, his own return to orbit is a powerful reminder of how inspiration can come full circle.
Mission Goals
The Crew-11 mission will focus on:
- Testing space travel technologies for deep space exploration
- Studying human health in microgravity
- Conducting experiments in biology and physical sciences
Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy called the launch “the first step toward our permanent presence on the Moon,” reinforcing the mission’s role in preparing for Artemis III, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface by 2026.
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