Space: (RightNow) Astronauts have successfully taken the first-ever X-ray of their hands in space. This achievement was made during SpaceX’s ‘Frame 2’ mission.

According to a research report published in the Radiology journal, X-ray images were successfully captured for the first time on a commercial space flight. Researchers have deemed this study significant for diagnosing diseases in space.

The ‘Frame 2’ mission was a three-and-a-half-day polar orbit flight, where the crew achieved this success after 4 hours of training. The images were taken using a portable digital X-ray generator and flat panel detector.

These new portable machines are lightweight and fast, effectively working in a microgravity environment. They ensure that minor patient movements do not affect the images.

It is noteworthy that having multiple imaging methods for diagnosing diseases and injuries in space has been a long-standing dream of aerospace medicine. This research proves the potential to expand radiography capabilities in orbit.