Overview
- A study published July 14, 2026, reports that three Fram2 crew members used an ultraportable, wireless digital X‑ray to acquire preflight, in‑flight and postflight images that independent radiologists judged to be diagnostic.
- The tests were conducted during SpaceX’s 3.5‑day Fram2 polar orbital flight in March–April 2025 and included scans of phantoms, a smartwatch, hands, forearms, chests, abdomens and pelvises.
- Hands and forearms were easiest to image because they could be kept still, while chest, abdomen and pelvis images were harder to position in microgravity but still met diagnostic thresholds.
- The X‑ray generator suffered only superficial splashdown damage and continued to function, but researchers say future systems must be smaller, vacuum‑hardened and ruggedized for Moon and Mars missions.
- Beyond medical scans, the experiment showed value for non‑destructive testing of equipment and highlighted the need for onboard image‑quality checks and AI decision support when ground telehealth is unavailable.