{"id":945,"date":"2026-07-29T11:52:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T02:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/briefing\/2026-07-29-first-xrays-in-space-en\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T13:52:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T04:52:57","slug":"2026-07-29-first-xrays-in-space-en","status":"publish","type":"briefing","link":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/briefing\/2026-07-29-first-xrays-in-space-en\/","title":{"rendered":"They took X-rays in space after just four hours of training"},"content":{"rendered":"

2026-07-29 11:52 KST<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nonmedical spaceflight crewmembers acquired the first human radiographs in orbit after only four hours of training.<\/p>\n

Images from the Fram2 flight reached diagnostic quality, but no injured patient was diagnosed and the study involved only a few participants.<\/p>\n

What they imaged in orbit<\/h2>\n

Fram2 launched on March 31, 2025 and spent 3 days 14 hours in a 425\u2013450 kilometre polar orbit. The crew used an ultraportable wireless digital X-ray generator and detector.<\/p>\n

They imaged a hand, forearm, chest, abdomen and pelvis, plus a smartwatch and calibration object. Digital images were available immediately onboard.<\/p>\n

How far four hours of training went<\/h2>\n

Three crewmembers trained and joined the study; two performed in-flight imaging because orbital time was limited. Three independent radiologists evaluated the images.<\/p>\n

There were seven preflight and seven in-flight anatomic radiographs. Every in-flight image scored at least 3 on a five-point scale, the threshold for diagnostic quality.<\/p>\n

\"Explanatory
Produced explanatory image: it reconstructs the concept of orbital radiography and is not a photograph of Fram2 or its crewmembers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Image quality survived microgravity<\/h2>\n

Researchers found no evidence of differences in overall quality, spatial resolution or contrast resolution between preflight and in-flight images. Internal equipment details below a millimetre were visible.<\/p>\n

Positioning of chest, abdomen and pelvis images was worse in flight. Keeping the person, source and detector aligned remains the main operational problem.<\/p>\n

Why this matters for the Moon and Mars<\/h2>\n

For more than four decades, ultrasound was the only reliable medical imaging modality in orbit. Radiography could add information for fractures, chest problems and foreign objects.<\/p>\n

The same system could inspect spacesuits, electronics and satellites without dismantling them.<\/p>\n

This is not a space hospital yet<\/h2>\n

Only three people participated, and the study did not test diagnostic accuracy in real illness or injury. The device also sustained superficial damage during return.<\/p>\n

Future flights must validate mounting, radiation management, examination rules and remote interpretation with larger samples.<\/p>\n

Official primary sources<\/h2>\n

Primary source: Radiology original research<\/a><\/p>\n

Primary source: Radiological Society of North America research release<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nonmedical Fram2 crewmembers used a portable system to acquire human and equipment X-rays in orbit. The images reached diagnostic quality, but this was a very small feasibility study.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":[],"class_list":["post-945","briefing","type-briefing","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/briefing\/945","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/briefing"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/briefing"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}