Nibeditaa SpeaksNASA astronaut Anil Menon has demonstrated how ultrasound examinations are conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS), offering a glimpse into how astronauts could eventually diagnose and manage medical conditions without immediate assistance from doctors on Earth.
In a video shared on X, Menon demonstrated the procedure alongside NASA astronaut and station commander Jessica Meir. The demonstration involved one astronaut operating the ultrasound equipment while another handled the controls, with a medical team on Earth remotely guiding the examination and analysing the images.
The technology is particularly important for future long-duration space missions. Unlike on Earth, astronauts travelling far from home will not always have immediate access to medical professionals. Communication delays during missions to the Moon and, particularly, Mars could make real-time medical assistance difficult.
Menon’s current mission includes research into using ultrasound with augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI). NASA is examining whether these technologies can help astronauts perform and interpret medical imaging with less dependence on experts on Earth.
Ultrasound is already an important diagnostic tool in space because it is relatively compact and can provide real-time imaging. Microgravity, however, changes how blood and other fluids move through the body. This can affect cardiovascular function and may increase the risk of blood clots. Ultrasound can help researchers monitor these changes and better understand how the human body responds to prolonged exposure to microgravity.
The research could eventually support autonomous healthcare systems for astronauts travelling beyond low-Earth orbit. AI-assisted systems could help identify abnormalities in ultrasound images and support astronauts in making time-sensitive medical decisions when communication with Earth is delayed.
NASA’s work builds on the Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity (ADUM) programme, which expanded the use of ultrasound aboard the ISS. The programme trained astronauts to examine fellow crew members when medical concerns arose.
The technology has also produced benefits on Earth. Techniques developed through the ADUM programme have been adapted for healthcare in remote and underserved locations. NASA says the programme has helped train more than 45,000 physicians and physician extenders across more than 60 countries.
The American College of Surgeons has also incorporated the ADUM programme into ultrasound training for surgical interns and residents. The approach has demonstrated the ability to identify conditions that were previously considered difficult to diagnose using ultrasound, including a collapsed lung.
Menon’s research extends this legacy by exploring how AR and AI could make ultrasound increasingly autonomous. During his mission, he will also investigate bioprinting vascular constructs in microgravity, another area that could improve understanding of how the human body changes during long-term spaceflight.
As NASA prepares for missions farther from Earth, technologies that allow astronauts to diagnose and respond to health problems independently could become an increasingly important part of space exploration.
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