Astronauts say space station's ultrasound machine was critical during medical crisis

"The astronauts had already used the device a lot for routine checks of their body changes while living in weightlessness, so when we had this emergency, the ultrasound machine came in super handy."

"It was so useful that Fincke said there should be one on all future spaceflights. It really helped, he said. Of course, we didn't have other big machines that we have here on planet Earth, he added. We do try to make sure that everybody before we fly are really, really not prone to surprises. But sometimes things happen and surprises happen, and the team was ready preparation was super important."

"The space station is set up as well as it can be for medical emergencies, said NASA's Zena Cardman, who commanded the crew's early return flight with SpaceX. She said NASA made all the right decisions in canceling the spacewalk, which would have been her first, and prioritizing the crew's well-being."

A portable ultrasound aboard the International Space Station was used to assess a crew medical problem on Jan. 7, the day before a planned spacewalk that was canceled. The device had been used for routine monitoring of body changes in microgravity and proved invaluable during the emergency, leading to recommendations that future missions carry ultrasounds. Crew members emphasized robust preflight screening and training, and praised mission leadership for prioritizing crew health by canceling the spacewalk and returning early. The mission ended after about 5½ months with an early splashdown in the Pacific, demonstrating station preparedness for in-orbit medical issues.

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