NASA Launches rHEALTH Blood Analyzer to Space

Bedford, MA | February 19, 2022 – rHEALTH announced today that NASA has successfully launched its rHEALTH ONE universal blood analyzer to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Mission NG-17. The device was transported aboard the Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft and delivered to orbit via the Antares launch vehicle from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, Virginia. Liftoff occurred shortly after noon on February 19, followed by a two-stage ascent and a two-day transit to the ISS.

The rHEALTH ONE is a next-generation autonomous biomedical analyzer capable of performing a wide array of diagnostic tests using just a tiny sample — as little as 8 microliters — from blood, urine, swabs, or other biological fluids. Unlike traditional systems that require multiple instruments, rHEALTH consolidates cell counts, chemistries, molecular assays, biomarkers, and nucleic acid testing into a single compact platform.

Spaceflight presents significant medical challenges — from limited physician access and delayed communications to radiation exposure and physiological changes in microgravity. Rapid, point-of-care diagnostics are essential for safeguarding astronaut health during long-duration missions, including future travel to the Moon and Mars. NASA’s deployment of rHEALTH ONE is a key step in validating its performance in true spaceflight conditions and accelerating its readiness for operational use.

“This launch represents the culmination of many years of scientific collaboration with NASA,” said Eugene Chan, MD, CEO and inventor of rHEALTH. “rHEALTH ONE was designed to bring hospital-grade diagnostics to the point of need — whether that is on a spacecraft millions of miles from Earth or in communities here at home where access to care is limited.”

In the coming months, NASA astronauts aboard the ISS will begin operating the system in a technology demonstration phase, gathering critical data to support future missions and terrestrial applications.