NASA Astronaut’s Bihu Dance In Space Goes Viral, Assam CM’s Claim Draws Fact-Check

New Delhi: On the occasion of Rangali Bihu, an old video is once again going viral on social media. In this video, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke is seen wearing the traditional Assamese 'Gamusa' and performing Bihu dance in space. At first glance this video seems recent, but in reality it is almost two decades old. Despite this, every year during Bihu this clip catches people's attention and the same happened this time too.

When is this viral video from?

This video being shared on social media is from 2004, when Mike Finke was present at the International Space Station (ISS) under NASA's Expedition-9 mission. Every year it is shared as a new video, due to which many people get confused.

This video is from 2004, when Chief Minister of Assam was Tarun Gogoi and the Prime Minister of India was Manmohan Singh. https://t.co/6qiPh3TNE4

— Dr Nimo Yadav 2.0 (@DrNimoYadav) April 19, 2026

How was Bihu dance performed in space?

The International Space Station is located about 400 kilometers above the Earth, where gravity is very low. In such a situation, walking is not possible, rather the astronauts keep floating. Mike Finke performed Bihu dance in this microgravity, which looks very special.

Why did Mike Finke do the Bihu dance?

There is also an emotional reason behind this video. Mike Finke's wife Renita Saikia Finke is from Assam. He performed the Bihu dance wearing Gamusa in honor of his wife and her culture. It was not just a demonstration but a way of showing connection with one's roots.

Bihu in an International Space Station 🌃🚀👨‍🚀

Kudos to astronaut Mike Fincke for this special gesture to Assam’s culture. It’s wonderful to see Bihu going global, especially after the special focus given by Adarniya Shri @narendramodi ji during #BihuBinandia. pic.twitter.com/yKcFwCMdDI

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 19, 2026

Why did this video come into discussion again?

The Chief Minister of Assam recently shared this video and talked about the global impact of Bihu, after which this clip again went viral. However, some users also reminded that the video is old and it is being presented in a new context.

Who is Mike Finke?

Mike Fincke is a veteran NASA astronaut and is among the few people to have spent a long time in space. He has participated in many missions and has also done spacewalk. This Bihu dance of his also gives him a different identity.

Why was he in the news recently?

Recently Mike Finke came into limelight due to health problem during a mission. He had to be evacuated prematurely from the International Space Station, a rare occurrence in the station's history. At present he is fine and recovering.

Overall, this video is not just a dance clip, but it shows that culture and emotions do not depend on any distance. Identity and belonging can be maintained even in a place like space—that's why this video touches people's hearts every year