Who is Renita, Mike Fincke’s Assamese wife? First Astronaut to Become a Father in Space

NASA’s SpaceX crew made headlines after an emergency return to Earth due to an astronaut’s health. This was the first early evacuation of the ISS for medical reasons. The mission included U.S., Japanese, and Russian crew members, who returned after a 167-day stay in space. One of the astronauts was Mike Fincke, and here’s a closer look at him and his Assamese wife.

Who is Mike Fincke’s Wife?

Mike Fincke is married to Renita Saikia, originally from Assam, India. The couple has three children: Chandra, Tarali, and Surya. Renita’s father, Rupesh Saikia, moved from Assam to New Jersey in the 1960s and settled there after marrying in 1966. Mike and Renita married in 1996 and honor each other’s cultures, often representing them proudly.

First Astronaut to Become a Father in Space

In 2004, Renita gave birth to their second child, a daughter named Tarali Paulina, while Mike was in space. This made him the first astronaut to become a father while in orbit. NASA arranged a radio connection from the delivery room so Mike could hear his daughter’s first cries. He later called her Tara, meaning “star” in Hindi, while their son Chandra, meaning “moon,” was already three years old. Mike said:
“I already had a moon, and now my wife has given me a star.”

NASA also arranged video conferences after the birth so he could see his newborn daughter. Mike was two months into a six-month mission at the time. Renita prayed for his safe return and hoped they would enjoy many more adventures together, saying:
“I hope that everything is successful for his mission, that he comes home safely and that we get to enjoy many more adventures together for the rest of our lives.”

More About Mike Fincke

Mike Fincke is a veteran American astronaut with over 537 days in space. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he graduated from MIT with a degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is certified to fly Boeing Starliner and SpaceX Crew Dragon.

Fincke joined NASA in 1996 and completed two years of training at the Johnson Space Centre. Beyond space, he has acted in films like Star Trek: Enterprise (2001), Arthur (1996), and Nova (1974).

Mike is known for bringing Assamese culture to space, often carrying a Gamcha from Assam and even performing the Bihu dance aboard the ISS.

Mike Fincke’s story is not just about space exploration—it’s also about family, culture, and balancing life on Earth with missions in space.

Read More: Meet the four astronauts in the first urgent space evacuation