MinXray Featured in Historic Radiology Study

Exceptional Data Mined from First In-Space Human X-Rays Captured Via Company’s Portable Digital Radiography System

Northbrook, Ill. (August 12, 2026)—MinXray Inc., a leading manufacturer of portable digital radiography systems serving a variety of vital markets worldwide, is proud to announce its pivotal role in the publication of a landmark research study, "SpaceXray: Feasibility and Diagnostic Capabilities of On-Orbit Medical Radiography," in the prestigious journal Radiology, the flagship publication of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). As part of the study, MinXray’s Impact Wireless™ portable digital radiography system’s captured the first X-rays in space during the groundbreaking FRAM2 research mission aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Resilience. 

Authored by Sheyna Gifford, M.D., lead researcher and assistant professor of aerospace medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, the study marks a historic milestone in medical imaging by demonstrating the feasibility of acquiring the first human diagnostic X-ray images in space using a commercial-off-the-shelf portable digital radiography system. During the FRAM2 polar orbital mission, crew members with only four hours of preflight training successfully obtained diagnostic-quality radiographs while in microgravity, showcasing the potential for portable X-ray technology to become an essential tool for future long-duration spaceflight.

MinXray's FDA-cleared Impact Wireless™ portable TR90BH X-ray generator served as the imaging platform used throughout the mission. The lightweight, battery-powered system was selected for its portability, reliability, and ability to deliver high-quality digital radiographic imaging in one of the most demanding operating environments ever attempted.

"This publication represents a defining moment not only for space medicine, but for portable radiography," said Jeanne Walter, vice president, marketing and sales, at MinXray. "We're honored that MinXray technology was chosen to support this historic mission and help demonstrate that diagnostic X-ray imaging can be safely and effectively performed in orbit. This achievement reflects decades of innovation dedicated to bringing diagnostic imaging wherever it is needed most."

Landmark Findings

Published in Radiology, the peer-reviewed study demonstrated several key findings that establish digital radiography as a viable imaging modality for future space exploration. The research represents the first successful demonstration that commercial portable digital radiography can expand onboard diagnostic capabilities beyond ultrasound, providing astronauts with additional tools to evaluate traumatic injuries, musculoskeletal conditions, pulmonary disease, and spacecraft hardware during future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Advancing Imaging Wherever Care Is Needed

For nearly six decades, MinXray has specialized in portable imaging solutions designed to bring diagnostic capabilities beyond traditional hospital environments. From military medicine and disaster response to rural healthcare, sports medicine, veterinary care, and now orbital spaceflight, MinXray systems continue to demonstrate the versatility and reliability of portable digital radiography in challenging environments.

The publication of the SpaceXray study further validates the growing role of portable imaging technologies in expanding access to diagnostic care where conventional imaging systems are impractical or unavailable due to limitations of a traditional system, with lower mass, volume and power requirements, and radiation doses are less than a thousandth of the career limit for astronauts.

"As humanity prepares for longer-duration missions deeper into space, reliable diagnostic imaging will become increasingly important, especially around issues such as bone density loss in the Zero-Gravity environment," Walter added. "We're proud that MinXray technology is helping shape the future of aerospace medicine while continuing our mission of delivering ultra-portable imaging solutions wherever patients—and now astronauts—need them."

The full study, "SpaceXray: Feasibility and Diagnostic Capabilities of On-Orbit Medical Radiography," appears in the July 2026 issue of Radiology. To learn more about MinXray’s portable digital radiography systems, visit www.minxray.com or contact MinXray at 800-221-2245 or at info@minxray.com.