First Human Hand X-ray in Space
On April 9, a team of four astronauts aboard the Fram2 mission achieved a historic milestone by capturing the first human hand X-ray in space. The X-ray was taken inside the SpaceX Dragon capsule, which was orbiting Earth at a speed of 28,000 km/h and at an altitude of 320 km. The image closely resembled the iconic X-ray taken by Wilhelm Röntgen 130 years ago, marking a significant advancement in space medicine and astronaut health monitoring during long-duration missions.
The Fram2 mission, launched on March 31, 2025, was privately funded by cryptocurrency billionaire Choon Wang. The crew included Australian Eric Phillips, Norwegian Janicke Mikkelsen, and German Rabia Roge Wang, all experienced Arctic explorers. During their 3.5-day mission, the crew conducted 22 scientific experiments, including the X-ray of the hand, scans of the abdomen, chest, pelvis, forearm, and the spacecraft's electronics. They also performed a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan to measure bone mineral density, a valuable health indicator in microgravity environments where bones tend to weaken.
These experiments demonstrate how astronauts can monitor their health during missions with limited medical support, paving the way for future deep-space explorations.