A significant advancement in space medicine has been achieved with the first medical X-ray captured in space, as detailed in a recent study published in the journal Radiology. During a 3.5-day polar orbital flight on SpaceX’s Fram2 in 2025, crew members successfully utilized an off-the-shelf portable X-ray system after only four hours of training. This marks a departure from traditional ultrasound imaging, which is often operator-dependent and variable in quality. The FDA-cleared portable system was able to capture diagnostic images of various body parts and equipment, demonstrating the feasibility of in-orbit radiography. Despite some equipment damage upon re-entry, it functioned as expected, suggesting a promising future for portable imaging in spaceflight and enhancing crew health and hardware evaluation capabilities.
Tue, 14 Jul 2026 19:47:07 GMT | Radiology Business