By: Vicki Unvgarsky
A partnership has been formed between Nasa Glenn, Tri-C, and University Hospitals to create a small x-ray machine fit to use in space. Some challenges for astronauts are already eliminated while they are exploring outer space, which is part of why they feel weightlessness in space as they travel in an orbit around our planet. However, what happens if equipment breaks while in orbit or if a person becomes injured on the job? At the present time, not much of anything. Most of the technology used to examine these events is too awkward or impractical to carry in a space vehicle.
This is why Nasa Glenn examined 250 individual devices to not only examine cracks and breaks in human bones, but also their equipment. All those technological choices have been eliminated, save three. However, Nasa needed to do the testing of these devices outside of their quarters, which is why Tri-C offered its advanced and renowned advanced radiography lab, as well as its anatomical phantoms which are meant to assist in hand-on testing. University is performing hands-on tests through obtaining images from actual patients and requesting their feedback.
Between this year and 2027, Nasa Glenn hopes to choose one appropriate device for the allotted amount of space in the vehicles as well as the difficult conditions of outer space. The selected technology will then be tested at the International Space Station.
