# Astronauts Capture First X-Rays in Space SpaceX crew pioneers new era in space medicine with orbital imaging breakthrough. - **Source:** [Slashdot](https://brifing.si/source/0f34d58e-1ccd-45a6-ab82-2de4065dc7ad) - **Published:** 2026-07-15 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/427bc980-0f17-4edc-b55f-9c27d01b323a ## Breakthrough in Space Medicine Astronauts on SpaceX's Fram2 mission successfully captured diagnostic X-ray images in orbit for the first time. This milestone provides space medicine with a crucial imaging alternative to ultrasound, essential for future lunar and deep space missions. ## Commercial Tech Goes Orbital Off-the-shelf X-ray machines like the MinXray TR90BH now enable imaging far from traditional facilities. Mayo Clinic researcher Sheyna Gifford's team tested microgravity X-rays during 2022 parabolic flights before years of SpaceX collaboration brought this technology to orbit. ## Rapid Training, Effective Results Instead of days of medical training, astronauts learned to operate the portable radiography device in just four hours. They captured preflight X-rays of multiple body regions before their March 31, 2025 Falcon 9 launch. ## Successful Orbital Testing After system calibration in orbit, the crew tested the MinXray on human anatomy and a smartwatch. Independent radiologists later evaluated the images as comparable to Earth-based scans, despite slightly lower positioning scores for torso images. ## Notable Ease of Use Astronauts reported the device was easy to operate with minimal training. While central body image positioning scored slightly lower, all other scans matched terrestrial quality standards, demonstrating the technology's space readiness. ## Enabling Future Space Exploration Researchers aim to conduct more orbital X-ray tests while reducing equipment size. This advancement will expand medical diagnosis and equipment inspection capabilities for extended space missions, supporting humanity's push deeper into the solar system. ## Sources covering this story - https://science.slashdot.org/story/26/07/15/0354223/astronauts-take-first-x-rays-in-space?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._