First Human X-Rays in Space Bring Healthcare a Step Closer on Future Moon and Mars Missions

For more than six decades of human spaceflight, astronauts have traveled beyond Earth without one of the most common medical tools found in hospitals: an X-ray machine. That has now changed, opening the door to better medical care for future crews traveling to the Moon and Mars.

The breakthrough took place during SpaceX’s Fram2 mission, which launched on March 31, 2025. During the 3.5-day flight around Earth, four private astronauts used a portable X-ray machine to capture the first human X-rays ever taken in space. The results of the experiment were published in the medical journal Radiology on July 14, 2026.

The successful test showed that astronauts with only a few hours of training could take X-rays in microgravity that were clear enough for medical use. For future missions far from Earth, that could mean being able to confirm a broken bone or examine other health problems without waiting to return home.

In simple terms, future spacecraft may need something closer to a portable emergency room rather than just a first-aid kit.

Why X-Rays Matter for Future Moon and Mars Missions

For decades, ultrasound has been the main medical imaging tool available to astronauts in orbit. It is useful because the equipment is portable and can be used in microgravity.

But X-rays can provide information that ultrasound cannot easily offer, especially when doctors need to check for broken bones or examine the chest and other parts of the body.

“The change would be significant: A faster, more accurate, painless diagnosis,” Dr. Sheyna Gifford, an aerospace medicine researcher and assistant professor at Mayo Clinic, told ScienceAlert.

“X-ray in space has the power to upgrade a suspected fracture to a confirmed fracture in a fraction of a minute,” she said.

The need for better medical tools will grow as astronauts spend more time away from Earth. Long periods in space can weaken bones and muscles, while accidents could happen during work inside a spacecraft or while exploring the surface of the Moon or Mars.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are still relatively close to Earth. In a serious emergency, they can potentially return home within hours.

Future crews will not have that option.

Astronauts on the Moon would be days away, while a journey between Earth and Mars can take months. Communication between Earth and Mars can also face delays, meaning astronauts may not always be able to get immediate medical guidance.

That makes the ability to diagnose and treat health problems independently much more important.

How Astronauts Took the First X-Rays in Space

The Fram2 crew carried a small, portable digital X-ray system aboard their SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

None of the four crew members was a medical expert. Before launch, they received about four hours of training on how to operate the equipment.

Once in orbit, the astronauts took X-rays of their hands, forearms, chests, abdomens, and pelvises. They also scanned objects, including a smartwatch, to test whether the technology could be used to inspect equipment.

The images were recorded digitally, allowing them to be viewed without developing traditional X-ray film.

After the mission, medical experts on Earth compared the space X-rays with images taken before the flight. The images taken on Earth were generally clearer, but researchers found that those captured in orbit were still good enough to help diagnose medical problems.

“We believed an off-the-shelf portable system would stand a very good chance of surviving pre-launch testing and be operational in space by crew members with minimal training,” Gifford said in a statement.

“By acquiring the first human and equipment X-rays in space, our study demonstrates the feasibility of in-orbit radiography and expanded diagnostic capabilities for crew health and hardware evaluation,” she added.

Taking an X-Ray While Everything Is Floating

One of the biggest challenges was not producing the X-rays but keeping everything in the right position.

On Earth, a patient can stand or lie still while an X-ray is taken. In microgravity, the astronaut, the X-ray machine, and the image detector can all move.

Researchers found that hands and arms were the easiest body parts to scan because they could be held still more easily. Images of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis were harder to capture, but they were still considered clear enough for possible medical use.

The equipment also survived the journey back to Earth with only limited exterior damage and remained functional.

Researchers say future versions will need to be smaller, stronger, and easier to secure inside spacecraft.

“On Earth, we consider this system tremendously compact and portable,” Gifford told ScienceAlert. “In space, this system is considered massive.”

She said the system would need to become much smaller before X-rays could become a regular part of future space missions.

Bringing Hospital-Grade Imaging Farther From Earth

The successful test could help future crews become more medically independent as human exploration moves deeper into space.

Portable X-ray systems could eventually support NASA’s Artemis missions, which aim to establish a longer-term human presence on and around the Moon. Similar technology could become even more important during future missions to Mars, where quickly returning an injured astronaut to Earth would not be possible.

Researchers have also suggested that artificial intelligence could one day help astronauts check X-ray images and identify possible medical problems when doctors on Earth cannot provide immediate support.

The technology could serve another purpose as well. Portable X-rays may help astronauts inspect spacesuits, electronics, and other spacecraft equipment for hidden damage without taking them apart.

There could also be benefits on Earth. Smaller and easier-to-use X-ray machines could bring medical imaging to rural communities, disaster areas, and other places far from major hospitals.

“Disseminating autonomous miniature X-ray systems around the globe could also change the game in public health,” Gifford said.

“The sky is not the limit when it comes to X-rays in space and here on Earth.”

The Fram2 experiment was a short test in Earth orbit, but it answered an important question for future human exploration: medical X-rays can work in space. As astronauts prepare to travel farther from Earth and stay away for longer periods, carrying the tools to diagnose serious injuries could become key to survive the journey.