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Medical X-Rays Taken in Space for the First Time
Radiologists on Earth judged the scans diagnostic, and researchers said the portable system could also inspect spacecraft hardware for hidden damage.
- SpaceX's Fram2 crew successfully performed the first diagnostic X-rays in orbit, marking a milestone for space medicine. The study, published today in the journal Radiology, confirms the feasibility of in-orbit radiography.
- For more than four decades, ultrasound has been the only practical imaging technology available to astronauts in orbit. As spaceflight missions increase in duration, ultrasound's reliance on sound wave transmission and operator training has become less acceptable.
- Aboard the spacecraft Resilience, three crew members with four hours of training successfully operated an ultraportable, wireless digital X-ray generator during their 3.5-day flight. They imaged their bodies and equipment, including a smartwatch, hands, forearms, chests, abdomens, and pelvises.
- Lead researcher Dr. Sheyna Gifford said the system proves radiography is feasible for monitoring crew health and inspecting hardware for hidden damage. Despite superficial landing damage, the X-ray generator's internal components and output remained fully functional.
- Future missions to the Moon and Mars may require more robust, rugged systems to handle deep space travel. Researchers suggest AI-assisted analysis could eventually help astronauts identify medical issues when real-time support from Earth is unavailable.
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Astronauts Obtain First X-Rays in Space
(MedPage Today) -- It was feasible to take x-rays in space, potentially improving diagnostic capabilities for crew health, according to a small prospective study. Using a portable radiography system, three crew members on the 3.5-day Fram2 polar...
·New York, United States
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During more than six decades of space exploration, astronauts never had access to X-ray equipment in orbit. That just changed. Radiographs in space will be possible. One...
·Lisboa, Portugal
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources54
Leaning Left8Leaning Right13Center22Last UpdatedBias Distribution51% Center
Bias Distribution
- 51% of the sources are Center
51% Center
L 19%
C 51%
R 30%
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