Overview
- The study, published Tuesday, July 14, 2026, reports that three non‑medical crewmembers on SpaceX’s Fram2 mission used a commercial ultraportable X‑ray system after four hours of training to image hands, forearms, chest, abdomen, pelvis, a phantom and a smartwatch.
- Three independent radiologists compared preflight, inflight and postflight images and judged the inflight scans to be diagnostically adequate, though positioning of central‑body images such as chest, abdomen and pelvis scored lower than peripheral limb images.
- The X‑ray generator sustained only superficial exterior damage during splashdown and recovery while its internal hardware and X‑ray output remained functional, and the estimated radiation dose to crew was comparable to standard clinical imaging on Earth.
- Authors say the capability could expand onboard care and non‑destructive testing of suits, electronics and planetary samples, but they call for device miniaturization, secure mounting and AI or automation to address positioning, ruggedness and delayed ground support on long missions.
- The result builds on 2022 parabolic‑flight tests and challenges the four‑decade reliance on ultrasound in space by offering faster, higher‑resolution imaging for bones and hardware, a capability that could change care on lunar and Mars missions and in remote areas on Earth.