As NASA plans future human exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, new and unique challenges emerge \u2014 like communication delays and limited return-to-Earth options \u2014 so enhanced medical care capabilities are critical. Crews will need non-invasive imaging technology to diagnose medical conditions, like broken bones or dental injuries.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scientists at NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland are testing portable, handheld X-ray systems for use during future extended space missions. Having portable X-ray capabilities aboard spacecraft would allow astronauts to immediately assess and treat potential injuries or identify equipment issues without having to disassemble the gear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTechnological innovations like that of the mini-X-ray will help keep our astronauts healthy as we endeavor farther into space than ever before,\u201d said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. \u201cFuture missions to the Moon and Mars will be safer due to the research of our scientists at NASA Glenn.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
NASA reviewed more than 200 commercial systems \u2014 analyzing size, weight, image quality, ease-of-use, cost, and safety \u2014 and selected three systems for further testing: MinXray, Remedi, and Fujifilm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re working to provide evidence on why a mini-X-ray system should be included in future space exploration,\u201d said Dr. Chase Haddix, a senior biomedical engineering research contractor working for Universities Space Research Association at NASA Glenn. \u201cThese X-rays could be used to detect both clinical and non-clinical diagnostics, meaning they can check an astronaut\u2019s body or identify the location of a tear in an astronaut suit.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
NASA Glenn is collaborating with other centers, including NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston and NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, and radiography experts at University Hospitals and Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re fortunate to have enthusiastic medical and radiography experts right here in our community,\u201d said Dr. Cy Peverill, project task lead at NASA Glenn. \u201cTheir knowledge and experience are invaluable as we work to test medical technologies that could significantly improve management of astronaut health on future missions to the Moon or Mars.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cuyahoga Community College contributed anatomical phantoms, which are lifelike models of the human body, in its radiography laboratory on the Western Campus and dental hygiene clinical facility at the Metropolitan Campus. Faculty and students consulted with NASA researchers on essential imaging principles, including patient positioning, image acquisition, and image quality.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
University Hospitals is partnering with NASA Glenn on a medical study with real patients to compare the performance of the X-ray systems against hospital-grade equipment, focusing on usability, image clarity, and diagnostic accuracy.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAstronauts live and work in small quarters, much smaller spaces than in a hospital,\u201d Haddix said. \u201cThe system must be easy to use since astronauts may not be experienced in radiography. The data from these tests will guide the selection of the most suitable system for future missions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Using portable X-rays to improve health care in inaccessible areas is not new, with systems deployed to diagnose medical issues in places such as base camps in Nepal and remote villages in South Africa. NASA researchers theorize that if these systems are successful in high elevations and extreme temperatures on Earth, perhaps they are durable enough for space missions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Glenn researchers will continue to collect data from all collaborators, including from an X-ray system sourced by SpaceX that launched in April during the Fram2 mission. The crew captured the first human X-ray images in space during their four-day mission to low Earth orbit. NASA plans to select a device near the end of 2025 and will test the chosen system aboard the International Space Station in 2026 or early 2027.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n