Biography

He made an appearance as Lieutenant M. Fincke in the last episode of "Star Trek: Enterprise": Season 4, Episode 22: "These Are the Voyages..." Fincke received credit as a Hologram Engineer in the end credits. His colleague, Terry Virts, was invited to appear as well. While in space and orbiting Earth, he was able to chat with Scott Bakula via space-to-ground link and was later awarded with a "Starfleet Award" (actually a trophy-size replica of the Starfleet emblem) for his work on board the ISS.

In June 2004, their younger child, as Renita told the Calcutta Telegraph newspaper, "Tarali was born and made history! She is the first baby to be born to an astronaut while he was in space! Much excitement surrounded the birth. There was a full NASA team in place with the logistics of having the baby - from security to making sure Mike was involved in the birth. As I was in the delivery room having the baby, I spoke to Mike on my cellular telephone. Mike heard Tarali's first cries and was even able to see her with the NASA-provided video-conferencing equipment!".

Selected by NASA in April 1996, Colonel Fincke completed two years of training at the Johnson Space Center. He was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Station Operations Branch, serving as an International Space Station Spacecraft Communicator and as the ISS crew procedures team leader. He also served as back-up crew member for ISS Expeditions 4 and 6 as well as back-up commander for ISS Expeditions 13 and 16.

This busy NASA astronaut graduated from Sewickley Academy in Pennsylvania in 1985. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics as well as a Bachelor of Science in Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences. This was followed by a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University in 1990. He was awarded associates of science degree in Earth Sciences (Geology) from El Camino College in Torrance, California in 1993 and then a second Master of Science in Physical Sciences (Planetary Geology) from the University of Houston in 2001.

His professional honors include two NASA Distinguished Service Medals and two NASA Spaceflight Medals; Colonel Fincke is also a recipient of the first ISS Leadership Award as well as a United States Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, three Commendation Medals, two Achievement Medals, and various unit and service awards. He is a Distinguished Graduate from the United States Air Force ROTC, Squadron Officer School, and Test Pilot School Programs and the recipient of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School Colonel Ray Jones Award as the top Flight Test Engineer/Flight Test Navigator in class 93B.